“The principles of the Helsinki Final Act are of equal importance and all OSCE member states, including Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed that the settlement of the Karabakh conflict should be based on the principles of non-use of fore, the right of peoples to self-determination and territorial integrity,” Armenia’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE Arman Kirakosyan said, as he addressed the OSCE Permanent Council.
He said “Azerbaijan’s anti-Armenian policy has not changed in the course of the past 25 years. “Azerbaijan refuses to recognize the right of the people of Nagorno Karabakh to self-determination, which has been recognized by the Minsk Group co-chairing countries as one of the basic principles of settlement. The determination of the final status of Nagorno Karabakh through legally binding expression of will lays in the basis of the resolution,” Arman Kirakosyan said.
The Armenian Ambassador said “the people of Nagorno Karabakh have gained de facto independence, thus realizing its inalienable right to self-determination in compliance with the USSR legislature and the norms of international law.
“Azerbaijani claims to sovereignty over the people of Nagorno Karabakh are baseless,” Kirakosyan said. He reiterated Armenia’s support for the OSCE Minsk Group format. He expressed concern over Azerbaijan’s questioning of the long-term experience of the co-chairing countries and their efforts towards a peaceful settlement.
The Armenian Ambassador further noted that “Azerbaijan’s requirements connected with the expansion of the Minsk Group format are destructive and negatively affect the peaceful settlement process. Hailing the mediating efforts of the three co-chairing countries, Arman Kirakosyan noted that “as a Minsk Group member state, Turkey has adopted a contradicting approach, trying to manipulate the Karabakh issue for the benefit of its geopolitical interests.”
Arman Kirakosyan said “Azerbaijan has turned down the proposals to withdraw snipers from the frontline and create a mechanism for investigation of border incidents. He reconfirmed the principled approach of the Armenian side that “the reinforcement of the ceasefire regime will create preconditions for a peaceful negotiated settlement, while through escalation of the situation Azerbaijan carries responsibility for the maintenance of the status quo.”
The Armenian side dubbed Azerbaijan’s efforts to take the Karabakh issue to platforms not involved in the settlement of the issue as “non-constructive” and said it does no good to the negotiation process.
To conclude with, Ambassador Kirakosyan reiterated Armenia’s resoluteness to continue to work with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to further the peace proves.
