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PACE CHAIRMAN TO DISCUSS NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT WITH AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN DELEGATIONS
Trend, Azerbaijan
June 24 2013
France, Strasbourg, June 24 / Trend, A. Maharramli /
The Azerbaijani and Armenian delegations are expected to meet at the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), PACE chairman
Jean-Claude Mignon told journalists at a press conference organized
as part of the summer session of the organization, while answering
a question about the Karabakh question.
"We will discuss the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on
June 26 with the Azerbaijani and Armenian delegations," he said.
"There is a real desire to achieve progress on the matter. It is
necessary to take advantage of Armenia's chairmanship in the CE
Committee of Ministers, in which, Austria, then Azerbaijan will
preside after Armenia."
Mignon also clarified his objections to the restoration of the activity
of the PACE subcommittee on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"We touched on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue at the meeting of the
PACE Bureau and the Standing Committee in Yerevan," he said. "These
discussions were a continuation of my South Caucasus visit. I had
interesting meetings in these countries. I also had an interesting
meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov in Baku. It is clear that Azerbaijan is willing to
accept the Madrid principles prepared and put forward by the OSCE Minsk
Group. I think this is very important. My position on the issue is
clear. I opposed the restoration of the PACE subcommittee's activity
on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. What is the reasoning
behind my position? I believe that the only organization authorized
to deal with this issue is the OSCE Minsk Group. Any initiative could
reduce the significance of the Minsk Group's work. I fully rely on
the activity of Minsk Group."
According to Mignon, the Nagorno-Karabakh issue will not be discussed
in PACE as a current issue.
"It will be necessary to specify the format," he stressed. "But we
want to invite co-chairmen of the Minsk Group to PACE in the near
future and to listen to them. One can get more precise information
about the Minsk Group's work on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We
proceed from the Madrid principles in this issue."
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding
regions of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the U.S. are
currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the occupied territories.
Trend, Azerbaijan
June 24 2013
France, Strasbourg, June 24 / Trend, A. Maharramli /
The Azerbaijani and Armenian delegations are expected to meet at the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), PACE chairman
Jean-Claude Mignon told journalists at a press conference organized
as part of the summer session of the organization, while answering
a question about the Karabakh question.
"We will discuss the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on
June 26 with the Azerbaijani and Armenian delegations," he said.
"There is a real desire to achieve progress on the matter. It is
necessary to take advantage of Armenia's chairmanship in the CE
Committee of Ministers, in which, Austria, then Azerbaijan will
preside after Armenia."
Mignon also clarified his objections to the restoration of the activity
of the PACE subcommittee on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"We touched on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue at the meeting of the
PACE Bureau and the Standing Committee in Yerevan," he said. "These
discussions were a continuation of my South Caucasus visit. I had
interesting meetings in these countries. I also had an interesting
meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov in Baku. It is clear that Azerbaijan is willing to
accept the Madrid principles prepared and put forward by the OSCE Minsk
Group. I think this is very important. My position on the issue is
clear. I opposed the restoration of the PACE subcommittee's activity
on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. What is the reasoning
behind my position? I believe that the only organization authorized
to deal with this issue is the OSCE Minsk Group. Any initiative could
reduce the significance of the Minsk Group's work. I fully rely on
the activity of Minsk Group."
According to Mignon, the Nagorno-Karabakh issue will not be discussed
in PACE as a current issue.
"It will be necessary to specify the format," he stressed. "But we
want to invite co-chairmen of the Minsk Group to PACE in the near
future and to listen to them. One can get more precise information
about the Minsk Group's work on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We
proceed from the Madrid principles in this issue."
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding
regions of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the U.S. are
currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the occupied territories.