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Derechos | Equipo Nizkor
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Derechos | Equipo Nizkor
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06Apr16
Russian Foreign Ministry: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be settled
Russia proceeds from the fact that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be settled, as there is no other option, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a briefing on Wednesday.
"We cannot put the question whether it is possible or not [to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict]," the diplomat said. "If we left some doubt that we can succeed, it would be a very dangerous logic that might inspire those who are really against peaceful settlement," she added.
"We want this [settlement of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh], we know what both sides want," the diplomat said. And for many years we have been trying painstakingly, step by step to achieve the full settlement of the situation," Zakharova said. "And we sometimes were just a step away from reaching agreement, and then, unfortunately, the process again stalled." "We proceed from the fact that it [settlement] should be achieved. We just have no other option."
She also said that Russia plays in this process both the role of co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group and "regarding the relations we have built both with Armenia and Azerbaijan." "It is also Russia's role as a major international player that manifests itself in our bilateral contacts with the countries involved some way or other in this situation or that can influence the related parties," Zakharova said.
"It's a constructive role," the diplomat said. "All our thoughts, designs, aspirations, ideas and plans - they are all about the situation's peaceful settlement and certainly, about the prevention of provocations of any kind."
The situation along the line of contact in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone deteriorated dramatically overnight to April 2, fierce clashes began. The parties to the conflict accused each other of violating the truce.
Talks on Nagorno-Karabakh have been held on the basis of the so-called Madrid Principles suggested by co-chairs of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) - Russia, France and the United States - in December 2007 in the Spanish capital.
They include three key principles written in the Helsinki Final Act: refraining from the threat or use of force, territorial integrity and the right to self-determination.
Nagorno-Karabakh sought independence from Azerbaijan at the end of the 1980s, which resulted in a war between Azerbaijan and Armenia that claimed the lives of 25,000-30,000 people between 1988 and 1994. Since then, the territory has been controlled by Armenia.
The OSCE Minsk Group acts as a mediator. It is a mechanism designed to promote a peace solution to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. The group is led by co-chairs France, Russia and the United States. It also comprises Belarus, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Finland, and Turkey, as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan.
[Source: Itar Tass, Moscow, 06Apr16]
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