The minimum purpose of the OSCE MG visit is achieved
The OSCE Co-Chairs little by little start to realize that the problem of the Armenian refugees is a serious factor, which, in case of being ignored, may bring the issue of the conflict regulation to a deadlock condition.
The main purpose of the visit of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict regulation in fact is achieved; the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed upon the meeting in Saint-Petersburg on June 9. In all other respects, the visit was like all the others, and as always the information disseminated by the Azeri Press about the visit was quite diametric to what Bernard Fasie and Yuri Merzlyakov said in Yerevan.
In this regard it is worth mentioning Matthew Bryza's bewilderment for the announcements he heard on TV in Baku, which were made on his own behalf. Basically, the announcements made by the Co-Chairs, which are disseminated by the Azeri Press must be regarded rather carefully. Perhaps this was why the Russian mediator Yuri Merzlyakov refused to make any comment to the Azeri journalists. According to Bernard Fasie the meetings were rather helpful. "We are building bases for negotiation, and in Yerevan we built one. We believe that we will be able to build some more in Baku as well," he said in Baku.
Most probably the main stress will be laid on the issue of the refugees. This is what Azerbaijan very often likes to speak about in such a way, as if there are no Armenian refugees. According to Arman Melikyan; the advisor of the Nagorno-Karabakh President, the OSCE Co-Chairs little by little start to realize that the problem of the Armenian refugees is a serious factor, which, in case of being ignored, may bring the issue of the conflict regulation to a deadlock condition. "If the Armenian refugees agree to return to Azerbaijan, it will be possible to speak about returning the Azerbaijanis, if not - it is necessary to think about a place where those people will live and where their new motherland will be. From this point of view the liberated territories are the most appropriate place," announced Arman Melikyan. But Azerbaijan thinks otherwise. The survey carried out by Day.az showed that 34% of the citizens of Azerbaijan are for returning the Armenians to Azerbaijan after the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict regulation, 54% think that it is not possible, and 12% of the population didn't answer. 1122 people participated in the survey.
Meanwhile the Co-Chairs in Yerevan announced that they do not differentiate the refugees according to their nationality. "When saying that the refugees and the displaced persons must return to the place of permanent residence, both Armenians and Azeri people are meant," announced OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Bernard Fasie during a press-conference in Yerevan. He mentioned that the OSCE Minsk Group has more than once spoken about returning the refugees, under one condition only - if the attitude of negativism between the two countries is overcome. "I have already mentioned that one never starts building a house from the roof. The same concerns the refugees; where should they be returned, under what conditions and on what bases? Everything must be carefully worked out," underlined Fasie.
Another important matter that is always being discussed during the OSCE MG visits is the issue of the participation of Nagorno-Karabakh in the negotiation process. Every time the mediators mention that the participation of the Nagorno-Karabakh representative in the negotiation process is essential, yet the ice doesn't break, and the announcements again remain hanging in the air. Arman Melikyan thinks that the Co-Chairs have their share of fault in the fact that the Armenian party isn't involved in the negotiation process.
In his turn the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs announced in the US Congress that Russia and the United States work on achieving a peaceful method of the regulation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, which will lead to stabilization and security in South Caucasus. "The regulation of the Karabakh Conflict depends on Azerbaijan and Armenia and the issue is of common interest of both countries. Together with the OSCE Co-Chairs I was in the region in spring to grant the Presidents of both countries the main principles of the peaceful way of regulation of the Conflict. These are considered to be the key principles in the conflict resolution," announced the American diplomat.
Most probably the main stress will be laid on the issue of the refugees. This is what Azerbaijan very often likes to speak about in such a way, as if there are no Armenian refugees. According to Arman Melikyan; the advisor of the Nagorno-Karabakh President, the OSCE Co-Chairs little by little start to realize that the problem of the Armenian refugees is a serious factor, which, in case of being ignored, may bring the issue of the conflict regulation to a deadlock condition. "If the Armenian refugees agree to return to Azerbaijan, it will be possible to speak about returning the Azerbaijanis, if not - it is necessary to think about a place where those people will live and where their new motherland will be. From this point of view the liberated territories are the most appropriate place," announced Arman Melikyan. But Azerbaijan thinks otherwise. The survey carried out by Day.az showed that 34% of the citizens of Azerbaijan are for returning the Armenians to Azerbaijan after the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict regulation, 54% think that it is not possible, and 12% of the population didn't answer. 1122 people participated in the survey.
Meanwhile the Co-Chairs in Yerevan announced that they do not differentiate the refugees according to their nationality. "When saying that the refugees and the displaced persons must return to the place of permanent residence, both Armenians and Azeri people are meant," announced OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Bernard Fasie during a press-conference in Yerevan. He mentioned that the OSCE Minsk Group has more than once spoken about returning the refugees, under one condition only - if the attitude of negativism between the two countries is overcome. "I have already mentioned that one never starts building a house from the roof. The same concerns the refugees; where should they be returned, under what conditions and on what bases? Everything must be carefully worked out," underlined Fasie.
Another important matter that is always being discussed during the OSCE MG visits is the issue of the participation of Nagorno-Karabakh in the negotiation process. Every time the mediators mention that the participation of the Nagorno-Karabakh representative in the negotiation process is essential, yet the ice doesn't break, and the announcements again remain hanging in the air. Arman Melikyan thinks that the Co-Chairs have their share of fault in the fact that the Armenian party isn't involved in the negotiation process.
In his turn the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs announced in the US Congress that Russia and the United States work on achieving a peaceful method of the regulation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, which will lead to stabilization and security in South Caucasus. "The regulation of the Karabakh Conflict depends on Azerbaijan and Armenia and the issue is of common interest of both countries. Together with the OSCE Co-Chairs I was in the region in spring to grant the Presidents of both countries the main principles of the peaceful way of regulation of the Conflict. These are considered to be the key principles in the conflict resolution," announced the American diplomat.
