Published since 07.2002
Published on March 28, 2008
THE UN RESOLUTION: WILL AZERBAIJAN BREAK UP THE OSCE MINSK GROUP FORMAT?
- In mid March the UN General Assembly, at Azerbaijan’s suggestion, adopted a resolution in fact recognizing Karabakh as an occupied land. Analysts say that by such steps Baku is trying to dissolve up the current format of negotiations. The resolution, which is non-binding, says that “the UN General Assembly respects Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and recognizes its territorial integrity within the borders acknowledged by international laws; demands to immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw the armed divisions of Armenia from the occupied lands; it acknowledges the rights of the residents evicted from their lands in the course of the conflict to return home and receive compensation; it confirms safeguarding of security and creation of conditions for autonomy for Armenian and Azeri communities of Nagorno Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan; welcomes the activities of OSCE Minsk Group within the framework of international law and wishes them to activate their efforts in achieving peace.” Right after the adoption of the resolution Karabakhi diplomats called it ‘Baku’s regular failure’. “As a result of UN discussions Azerbaijan factually suffered another defeat, trying, nonetheless, to present it to its nation as a moral victory. Although, doubtlessly, the resolution will impact the negotiating process,” NKR Foreign Minister George Petrosyan commented on the resolution. The Minister thinks that Azerbaijan received a clear signal that methods of unilateral pressure do not work. Head of Chief Information department of NKR president's administration David Babayan considers the fact that 39- (33 were Muslim countries) - out 192 UN member-countries voted for the resolution to be a sign showing that Azerbaijan had staked on Muslim countries. “Official Baku has started a very dangerous game. It staked on Muslim countries and is by that trying to attach a religious character to the Karabakh conflict. Out of 36 Muslim countries in the world 33- making 91 percent- voted ‘for’ passing the resolution. Such development of the situation is against the interests of the main geo-political players,” Babayan stated. Analysts say Azerbaijan’s stirring up the issue is connected with the current instability in Armenia following the February 19 presidential election and subsequent unrest. “Azerbaijan made use of the current internal political situation in Armenia and is now bringing to life a comprehensive program. Coincidences are obvious: on March 1 post-election events took place in Yerevan which have left many victims. On March 3-4 Azerbaijan’s armed forces carried out an attack on the NKR outposts. On March 14 UN General Assembly’s session was held. These are not a matter of chance or accident,” stated Minister Petrosyan. The most important part in this is, however, the Minsk group co-chairing countries’ (the USA, Russia, France – voting against) standpoint in the process of passing the resolution and possible impact it can have on the negotiating processes. “Adoption of the resolution on Nagorno Karabakh by the UN General Assembly cannot have a positive impact on the negotiating process. Despite the fact that resolutions adopted by UN have been non-binding, nonetheless mere emergence of such documents gives certain advantages to our opponents in the information war,” says the former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of NKR Masis Mailyan. Karabakhi political analyst David Karabekyan thinks that OSCE, in the person of its Acting Chairman – the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland Illke Kanerva- and co-chairmen of Minsk group by their statements have in fact cast away any apprehension Azerbaijan might have had. They guaranteed that, at least, the co-chairmen do not intend to acknowledge Nagorno Karabakh’s right to self-determination. “Curiously enough, this kind of reaction shows that if the issue of acknowledging Abkhazia’s, South Ossetia’s and Transdniestria’s right to self-determination and independence is on Russia’s agenda (it may well be so on other countries’ agendas), then in the issue of acknowledging Nagorno Karabakh’s right to self-determination and independence all Minsk group co-chairmen are unanimously against,” Karabekyan says. Recent conflict on the contact line suggest Azerbaijan is exploiting Armenia’s internal turmoil. “I do not rule out the possibility of Azerbaijan keeping the tensions in order to solve domestic political issues. We are taking adequate measures informing the OSCE Minsk group co-chairmen and anticipate from OSCE to give political assessment to these events. This incident was extraordinary. We stated quite clearly that if OSCE does not give political assessment to what happened, it would encourage Azerbaijan to be freer in its ambitions. After all- what’s more important in the region if not peace?” says Petrosyan. Karabekyan thinks that Minsk group co-chairmen should be expected to take steps at intensifying the negotiation process and involving Nagorno Karabakh in it in the capacity of rightful party, as well as steps at consolidation of security and cease-fire regime.
- Naira Hayrumyan
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Today in Armenian history- 1799 Birth of Eone Kish (Kishian), Hungarian Armenian revolutionary figure.
- 1827 General Ivan Paskevich is appointed Governor of the Caucasus and Commander of the Caucasian Special Corps.
- 1830 Birth of organist, conductor, teacher, and public figure, Anton Mayilian in Tbilissi.
- 1907 Birth of surgeon Ivan Gevorgian. He invented pain-killers and pioneered new ways for blood transfusion.
- 1920 The Drama Institute presents its first play.
- 1923 Birth of two-time hero and pilot Nelson Stepanian. The group of pilots led by Nelson Stepanian sank more than 50 enemy ships and destroyed 13 airplanes in World War Two. Nelson Stepanian flew 240 sorties. He died in a dogfight in 1944.
- 1928 Birth of artist and sculptor Ara Harootoonian. His great architectural work is the Sardarapat complex.
- 1988 The Supreme Soviet of the USSR rejects Artsakh's demand to be reunited with Armenia.
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