The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict did not transform into a large-scale bloody war largely due to the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by France, USA and Russia, the outgoing Minsk Group French co-chairman, Bernard Fassier, said Wednesday in Yerevan.
YEREVAN, December 22. /ARKA/. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict did not transform into a large-scale bloody war largely due to the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by France, USA and Russia, the outgoing Minsk Group French co-chairman, Bernard Fassier, said Wednesday in Yerevan.
"Over the last eighteen months we crossed the line of contact five times. We wanted to demonstrate that this line should not remain as a barrier between peoples. The parties to the conflict consolidate efforts to de-mine a corridor for the co-chairs and give guarantees of security, so their cooperation is possible," he said at a news conference in Yerevan, Novosti-Armenia news agency reported.
According to Fassier, a military solution to the Karabakh conflict is unacceptable, because otherwise it may bring about the same situation that was between France and Germany after the First World War.
"I recently talked about this in Paris, however, some journalists distorted my words taking them out of context and making stupid comments," he said, adding that although France managed to win back part of the German-occupied territories, but the price of that victory was too high.
"We spent so much money, and most importantly, lost so many people. This shows that war is not a reasonable solution for Azerbaijan. No matter who wins, it will be a nightmare for all," said Fassier.
He said in spite of everything geographically Armenia and Azerbaijan are neighbors, and they must learn to coexist peacefully.
"We need to improve the climate between the parties, and I do not mean just between the leaders. To create an atmosphere of peace after the bloodshed and accumulated hatred depends on the goodwill of the peoples of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Therefore, journalists, the military, the presidents, MPs, politicians, intellectuals all are responsible for a peaceful settlement", he said.
Nagorno-Karabakh, populated overwhelmingly by ethnic Armenians, broke away from Azerbaijan following a three-year war that left some 30,000 dead. A Russia-brokered ceasefire ended the hostilities in 1994, but peace has remained fragile since then. The current Minsk Group-mediated negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan have not brought a peace agreement yet. -0-
