Azerbaijan inquiring about OSCE MG mediators recall or replacementMarch 27, 2008 - 13:25 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijan has sent an inquiry to the OSCE Secretariat for recall or replacement of the Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group dealing with the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, Azeri Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov said."The MG Co-chairs were appointed during the Budapest summit in 1994. Their tasks are clear. However, if a party is discontent with the activities of any of the Co-chairs, it can launch a procedure of recall. We are deeply concerned that all of the three Co-chairs make hostile statements as regards Azerbaijan. They defame our country and oppose its territorial integrity," Azimov said. Azerbaijan doesn't have an intention to change the Minsk Group format, according to him. "These rumors are circulated by Armenia and mediators," he said. "The Co-chairs represent their own countries but not the entire Minsk Group. Thereupon, they are not empowered to make statements on behalf on the MG," he said. Azimov said Azerbaijan keeps up cooperation with the co-chair states. "However, we have sent an inquiry to the OSCE Secretariat about recall or replacement of the mediators. We would like to know whether we can do it, for Azerbaijan is also a member of the Minsk Group," he said, Bakililar.AZ reports. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |