MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +3741. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +3741. .562543
Email: [email protected]:
PRESS RELEASE
Statement by H. E. Mr. Vartan Oskanian Minister of FA of Armenia
12th Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council
6-7 December 2004, Sofia, Bulgaria — Allow me first to express the
appreciation of my Government to Bulgaria for its generous hosting
of this 12th Ministerial Council. Our delegation would like equally
to extend its appreciation for the Chairmanship-in-Office in 2004,
both to Minister Solomon Passy and his team at the MFA in Sofia, and
to the very able and dedicated Mission in Vienna, who had the burden
and the challenge of dealing on a daily basis with 54 delegations.
We also wish to welcome Mongolia to this organization which is as
inclusive and broad-reaching as any in today’s world.
On the threshold of the 30th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act
and the 10th year of the OSCE as an organization, we are compelled
to look back, evaluate the present and reflect on the future.
We should all recognize how well the Helsinki Final Act has endured as
a foundation of European security through three decades of momentous
changes. The political landscape of Europe has been redrawn. The
founding principles have demonstrated their continuing relevance and
resilience. Yet, the political arrangements underpinning the political
dynamics within the OSCE are in flux, and lead often to tensions
or paralysis. Within the organization, there are several poles of
power. While Armenia shares values and experiences with all, it cannot
be subsumed as part of any. Instead, we can be allies, partners,
neighbors, friends. The OSCE was conceived as an experiment in a
pluralistic, multilateral, cooperative diplomacy to enshrine security
and stability in a formerly divided Europe. The premise and the
objectives are still valid and need to be continuously reinvigorated.
It is in this light that we see calls for reform. This issue has
been subject to various interpretations, not all of them accurate
or fair. We cannot on the one hand advocate flexibility, and on the
other resist adaptation. The fairest systems are rule based, and should
ensure the equal access of all to decision-making bodies. That is the
essence of consensus, and that is what makes the OSCE effective. There
is much less wrong with our structures than with our practices.
The Government of Armenia given the present context of affairs in the
OSCE proposes and advocates vigorously “Pluralistic Equilibrium” as
a new motto, a goal, an objective and an operational concept. In its
essence it is not a new idea, it is simply a determination to revive
an old ideal. We shall do all we can to achieve this goal, important
to all of us and for the long-term relevance and effectiveness of
the OSCE. We are particularly hopeful that the incoming Slovenian
Chairmanship will spare no effort to realize this “Pluralistic
equilibrium”. We are confident they are up to the task, and more.
We have high hopes for the very useful work of the proposed panel
of eminent persons to take an in-depth and broad view of OSCE at
this moment facing structural challenges. However, we think the
usefulness and the reliability of their work will be enhanced if
they are eminent in their own right, as individuals of distinction,
and not simply country-based appointees.
As to the many decisions we will adopt and endorse at this Sofia
Ministerial, our support goes without saying. May I simply highlight
some as particularly important to us. Terrorism and combating it with
various tools – of course, this is an international priority. The
2004 Action Plan for Promotion of Gender Equality, the FSC package
on better control of arms trafficking. And finally, I congratulate us
all on our work to promote tolerance and fight discrimination without
creating a hierarchy of victims of intolerance.
Mr. Chairman,
This is my 7th ministerial, and each year I hope that next year,
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict will come off our agenda. This year we
had, and I would say we still have, serious prospects for making that
happen. As a result of four meetings between foreign ministers and a
lengthy meeting between presidents in Astana, we had real reasons to
assume that a resolution could be near. But, regrettably, Azerbaijan
raised the issue of so-called Armenian settlements and took this
matter to the UN. Thus, we have been faced with the reality that
Armenia’s willingness to keep the peace process alive has received
a miscalculated and non-constructive response.
It was Azerbaijan’s shortsighted, miscalculated responses of 15 years
ago that brought us to today’s situation. The historical, political,
media records witness how peaceful Armenian claims for freedom and
self-determination were met by armed aggression. Armenians defended
themselves, just as international forces defended others in similar
situations around the world. Each of Azerbaijan’s red-flag issues:
refugees, territories, settlements – are a result of the military
conflict that they created.
Don’t take my word for it. A group of Council of Europe
parliamentarians, as neutral observers, were present in Nagorno
Karabakh during the eruption of military activities. The following
is part of what they cited in 1992.
“Recent Azeri offensives into Nagorno-Karabakh have resulted in
entire villages being destroyed, with civilians massacred and
children raped. The clear superiority of the Azeri forces in terms
of manpower, arms and equipment, supplies of fuel and food, missile
launching and aerial bombing capabilities compared with those of
Nagorno-Karabakh means that it can only be a matter of weeks – if not
sooner – before the enclave is overrun. Without any evidence of date,
the fear of genocide and/or expulsion that would follow is entirely
understandable.”
The result of Azerbaijan’s military response and Armenians’
fierce determination to survive was hundreds of thousands of
refugees. Unlike my colleague, I will tell you that those refugees are
on both sides. There are indeed more than half a million Azerbaijani
refugees. But Mr. Chairman, there are nearly half a million Armenian
refugees from distant cities like the Azerbaijani capital, as well
as from the immediate conflict zone.
Those are the refugees – all waiting for a resolution.
As to settlements, we’ve repeatedly said there is no state settlements
policy in either Armenia or Nagorno Karabakh. But there is in
Azerbaijan. By presidential decree, the Azerbaijani State Committee
on Refugees and IDPs was instructed to organize the settlement of
refugees in the formerly completely-Armenian populated regions of
Shahumian and Getashen, as well as Northern Martakert which is part
of Nagorno Karabakh and occupied by Azerbaijan. By the same decree
the State Oil Fund allocated about $18 million to resettle Azeris
there. Yet the former Armenian residents of those regions are in and
around the conflict zone, waiting for a resolution so that they can
return to their homes.
A UN report just last month recommended that Azerbaijan take corrective
measures to ensure that Armenians whose properties are illegally
occupied by refugees and internally displaced persons be offered
alternative accommodation.
This is the state of refugees and settlements. In other words, there
is no new humanitarian crisis. There is the same difficult situation
for both sides, which should not be exploited, but instead, should
be addressed as part of the hard process before us. Despite these
diversionary tactics, this process today still holds promise. We
remain fully committed to the Minsk process as carried out by the
three Co-Chairmen and we assume a similar and reciprocal commitment
by Azerbaijan.
This conflict between the people of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan
will be concluded when Azerbaijan shares our vision for a real
peace. Our vision of a peaceful region is strategic. This vision
should not be endangered by clever moves and countermoves. This will
only succeed in handicapping or postponing serious negotiations.
Thank you.
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