Sergei Kapinos: Establishment of democracy is a long process

February 16, 2010 - 12:36 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net -
OSCE Office in Yerevan adequately responds to violations of human rights. “We consider the statements of Armenian National Congress (ANC) as not very correct,” Sergey Kapinos , head of OSCE Yerevan office told reporters in Yerevan today. "We believe the problems must be addressed comprehensively. Talks about human rights without improvement of the judicial system and raising the independence of judges are meaningless. We have projects and programs, but in our opinion it is impossible to attain good outcomes immediately. Establishment of democracy is a long process, " Sergei Kapinos said.

Commenting on Baku's militant rhetoric, Mr. Kapinos stressed he has no right to talk about it, since the mandate of OSCE Office in Yerevan does not allow to interfere in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. "But OSCE paid attention to those statements and consequently at the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Helsinki the principle of non-use of force appeared in the document on Karabakh. Rhetoric is not the worst thing, but we would be very happy if no statements are made against the peaceful settlement," head of OSCE Yerevan office Sergei Kapinos said.

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.

OSCE

The world\'s biggest regional organization dealing with security issues, OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) unites 56 countries situated in North America, Europe and Central Asia.\r\n\r\nIts member state are: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France Great Britain, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Macedonia, Malta¸ Moldova, Monaco Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Roumania, San-Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United States, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vatican.\r\n\r\nPartner countries include: Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Marocco, Mongolia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia.\r\n\r\nArmenia became an OSCE member state on January 30, 1992.