Azerbaijani diplomats ignoring Karabakh conflict settlement mediator countries’ statements
02.09.2016,
15:13
Azerbaijani diplomats’ statements are driving the Karabkh conflict settlement process to a deadlock, Edward Nalbandian, Armenian foreign minister, said Thursday at an informal meeting of OSCE countries’ foreign ministers in Potsdam, Germany.
YEREVAN, September 2. /ARKA/. Azerbaijani diplomats’ statements are driving the Karabkh conflict settlement process to a deadlock, Edward Nalbandian, Armenian foreign minister, said Thursday at an informal meeting of OSCE countries’ foreign ministers in Potsdam, Germany.
“Either our way or the war’ approach is a dead-end,” he said. “This type of language was used in the OSCE by Azerbaijani diplomats who, ignoring the approaches expressed in five statements of the presidents of the Co-Chair countries on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution, are trying to present their own perceptions or interpretations as the only peaceful way of the settlement. When even diplomats talk in such a language then the problem goes far beyond a mere lack of a good will.”
Nalbandian said that any challenge in the OSCE region should be settled through dialogue. Otherwise, any effort will be in vain.
Karabakh conflict broke out in 1988 when Karabakh, mainly populated by Armenians, declared its independence from Azerbaijan.
On December 10, 1991, a few days after the collapse of the Soviet Union, a referendum took place in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the majority of the population (99.89%) voted for secession from Azerbaijan.
Afterwards, large-scale military operations began. As a result, Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven regions adjacent to it.
Some 30,000 people were killed in this war and about one million people fled their homes.
On May 12, 1994, the Bishkek cease-fire agreement put an end to the military operations.
Тalks brokered by OSCE Minsk Group are being held over peaceful settlement of the conflict. The group is co-chaired by USA, Russia and France. -0---
“Either our way or the war’ approach is a dead-end,” he said. “This type of language was used in the OSCE by Azerbaijani diplomats who, ignoring the approaches expressed in five statements of the presidents of the Co-Chair countries on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution, are trying to present their own perceptions or interpretations as the only peaceful way of the settlement. When even diplomats talk in such a language then the problem goes far beyond a mere lack of a good will.”
Nalbandian said that any challenge in the OSCE region should be settled through dialogue. Otherwise, any effort will be in vain.
Karabakh conflict broke out in 1988 when Karabakh, mainly populated by Armenians, declared its independence from Azerbaijan.
On December 10, 1991, a few days after the collapse of the Soviet Union, a referendum took place in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the majority of the population (99.89%) voted for secession from Azerbaijan.
Afterwards, large-scale military operations began. As a result, Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven regions adjacent to it.
Some 30,000 people were killed in this war and about one million people fled their homes.
On May 12, 1994, the Bishkek cease-fire agreement put an end to the military operations.
Тalks brokered by OSCE Minsk Group are being held over peaceful settlement of the conflict. The group is co-chaired by USA, Russia and France. -0---
