Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

PACE resolution sparks differing reactions

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • PACE resolution sparks differing reactions

    AzerNews
    03/02/2005 11:40

    PACE resolution sparks differing reactions

    The approval of Atkinson's report on Upper Garabagh by the Parliamentary
    Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has drawn differing opinions from
    the parties interested in settling the conflict. President

    Ilham Aliyev gave a positive assessment of the PACE resolution on Upper
    Garabagh, regarding it as a victory of Azerbaijan's diplomacy. The
    opposition also welcomed the document in general.
    Yuri Merzlyakov, Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group (MG), told Radio
    Liberty that he disagrees with a provision of the resolution criticizing the
    lack of activity on the part of the MG.
    "They call on us to step up activity, although we are often more active than
    the parties to the conflict. However, we are not responsible for resolving
    the problem instead of the conflicting sides".

    The PACE resolution also says that if the OSCE MG-mediated talks are
    unsuccessful, Azerbaijan and Armenia may take the matter to the
    International Court of Justice. Merzlyakov pointed out that this action
    would probably be avoided as both countries are aware that the issue may be
    interpreted differently by the court. "Therefore, the conflict should be
    resolved not through legal but political means," he said.
    The Russian co-chair continued that the problem will not be resolved this
    year and only a certain amount of progress is likely to be achieved.
    "The parties are interested in resolving the problem, but no agreements have
    been reached thus far."
    Merzlyakov also expressed some unpalatable views for Azerbaijan. "I believe
    that Upper Garabagh is a party to the conflict, as the ceasefire, concluded
    by Azerbaijan and Armenia in 1994, along with the two countries, was signed
    by the 'defense minister' of Upper Garabagh."
    The United States has also criticized the reproach voiced against the OSCE
    MG co-chairs.
    The US ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish said that the OSCE MG has
    carried out extensive work this year.
    "Several meetings were held between the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents,
    as well as the two countries' foreign ministers, illustrating the efficiency
    of the OSCE MG activity", he said.
    Touching upon the passed PACE resolution on Garabagh, the ambassador
    commented that in his opinion it is of a "declarative" nature.
    In reply to a question as to whether the US will continue to provide aid to
    Armenia, which was recognized as the aggressor by PACE, Harnish said that
    Washington has always pursued a consistent policy.
    "From this standpoint, the aid being provided is aimed at achieving peace in
    the region."
    "We have not and will not recognize the self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh
    republic. The US recognizes Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. We welcome
    the attempts by the parties to settle the conflict in peace and are
    witnessing progress in this area."
    The ambassador stated that Russia is playing both a negative and a positive
    role with regards to the resolution of the Upper Garabagh conflict, along
    with many other conflicts in the former Soviet Union. Russia's role in the
    Garabagh conflict is undeniable, he said. Harnish added that the conflict
    settlement is not dependent only on the US and Russia.
    "The Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents need to step up efforts in this
    area", he said.
    The French co-chair of the OSCE MG, Bernard Fassier, said that the PACE
    resolution on Garabagh states the stance of this organization, which is one
    of the beacons of democracy in Europe. Fassier said that other international
    organizations should state their position on the Garabagh conflict as well.
    The co-chair added that statements implying that the OSCE Minsk Group is not
    engaged in any serious work are erroneous.

    Conflicting views
    Political forces in Armenia have issued conflicting opinions on the issue.
    The Armenian Foreign Ministry, via its spokesman, Hamlet Kasparian, said
    that the PACE rapporteur David Atkinson's report on the Garabagh conflict,
    although it included some positive parts, was generally incomplete.
    Kasparian said the PACE resolution covers the results of the conflict but
    not the reasons behind it.
    "Yerevan believes that changes were made to the resolution in a biased
    manner. On the initiative of the Turkish representative at the PACE
    Political Committee, one of Armenia's proposals, which was earlier agreed
    upon with Atkinson, was not approved. The resolution is not mandatory but
    advisory and declarative," Kasparian said. He said that peace talks will
    continue within the OSCE Minsk Group and the positive and negative
    provisions of the resolution are unlikely to affect the negotiating process.
    Chairman of the Armenian parliament commission on foreign relations, Armen
    Rustamian said the PACE resolution includes all the 'dangerous' provisions
    that Azerbaijan can take advantage of in the future.
    "The resolution contains such terms as 'occupied territories' and
    'separatists', and Azerbaijan will certainly take the opportunity of using
    them against Armenia."
    Rustamian expressed confidence that Azerbaijan will start imposing an
    ultimatum not only on Armenia, but also on the international community soon,
    as adopting the mentioned resolution gives Azerbaijan a legal right to
    retrieve its territories.
    Head of the Armenian delegation at PACE, Tigran Tarasian, stated that
    Armenia is satisfied with the PACE resolution. He viewed favourably the fact
    that certain parliamentary members brought up the issue of
    self-determination of Upper Garabagh.
    Nonetheless, Armenian opposition termed the document as an absolute
    diplomatic defeat of Yerevan, and essentially as an ultimatum put forth to
    Armenia by the international community.
Working...
X