OSCE Minsk Group Dissolution

[crusader1492]

OFFICE CLOSED?

 

The mediating mission of OSCE Minsk Group in the Nagorno-Artsax conflict has a history of long years, but it may come to end because of the position of official Baku, which considers the OSCE format ineffective.

 

When in late November 2007, Madrid, the "updated document" on the main terms of peace settlement was officially handed to the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, the OSCE expressed hope that the idea of Minsk Group Co-Chair Bernard Fassier to "build the wall of peace agreement brick by brick" would be easier achieved in that way.

 

The time showed that Azerbaijan, unwilling to go for compromise, is quite eager for other things. The administration of Aliev Junior, continuously making warlike statements in connection with NKR conflict settlement and being encouraged by impunity of such statements, openly rejected any opportunity of the independence of Artsax from Baku.

 

The refusal of Azerbaijan to work with the Minsk Group can be also considered in context with the warlike declarations. In the meanwhile OSCE Minsk Group Official Windbag Matthew Bryza tries to explain it differently. In an interview to "Azeripress" he stated that the "basic principles" of NKR conflict settlement are nothing else than preservation of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, demilitarization of Artsax and adjacent regions, return of the refugees, deployment of international peacemaking forces, establishment of communication with Armenia and determination of the status of NKR.

 

According to Bryza, who usually speaks too much and then says his words were misinterpreted and misunderstood, reason for Bakus' refusal to cooperate with the Minsk Group is the fact that it considers the idea of Artsax-Armenia communication extremely pro-Armenian. Moreover, Azerbaijan is against settling the question of Nagorno-Artsax status internationally.

 

From Aliev's interview to Interfax it comes out that the NKR is to agree to the first four articles, while the question of its status is not to be observed at all.

 

The chances of dissolving the Minsk Group would grow in case Armenia refuses to recognize the Nagorno-Artsax Republic a part of Azerbaijan. Besides, if Azerbaijan deems the establishment of Armenia-Artsax communication a great concession on its part, what cessations Armenia may speak about?

 

On the other hand the OSCE Minsk Group is neither Bryza, nor Merzliakov or Fassier. The there are governments that stand behind the Minsk Group and they are drawn by their own geopolitical interests. Under certain circumstances, their relationships both with Armenia and Azerbaijan may rapidly change and the mediation efforts of Minsk Group representatives turn to nothing. And if even Bryza speaks about insensibility of negotiating on Artsax conflict in case Azerbaijan refuses to discuss the NKR status openly, the "window of opportunities" is really shut now... And it was shut right at the nose of the Minsk Group.

 

By A. Haroutiunian, translated by A.M.

[Aratta-Kingdom]

azerbaijan hopes to solve the Artsak issue while Bush is in the White House. i expect something might happen before the end of the year-and the Armenian government knows about it. Get ready for it guys, we might be in a war again.

 

Add to that the fact that only coupld of days ago Oskanyan sent a message to the azeris by saying:

 

"According to Mediamax agency, RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian in his interview to Polish "Rech Pospolita" newspaper announced that Armenia intends to solve Artsax conflict exceptionally through negotiations. "However if we are confident that Azerbaijan doesn’t want to make compromises and wants to find a profitable solution by armed forces, then the Armenian side will take any opportunity to provide Artsax’s security and self-determination right. It’s not possible to solve the conflict by military ways. They tried it twice and failed. If they start it again, it will be the last one", announced RA Foreign Minister.

 

Commenting on Serge Sargsian’s first state visit to Moscow Mr. Oskanian said, "Armenia has chosen a political alliance with Russia because it contributes to strengthening of the republic’s security"."

 

[elle]

What is going on?

I'm spposed to have an internship in few months at the OSCE office in Armenia and now Baku is closing it's office?

I'm confused....is Armenia closing its office in response or....?

I hope I don't loose my internship...this really sucks!

Could those a$$holes in Baku choose another time to close their OSCE office....like at the end of the Summer or something...when I'm done with my internship. Selfish thinking, but it is what it is!

This is the first time that the Turks are hurting my interests directly!

 

 

 

 

 

[Ashot]

I don't think OSCE in Armenia will be affected by the OSCE being shut down in Azerbadrjan... Keep your hopes up, and goodluck with the internship!

[elle]

I don't think OSCE in Armenia will be affected by the OSCE being shut down in Azerbadrjan... Keep your hopes up, and goodluck with the internship!

 

 

Thanks!

Although if OSCE is closed in Baku then what is the whole point of having it in Armenia since they're only palying the roles of mediators.

I'm glad I haven't paid for my airfare yet!

 

Edited March 29, 2008 by elle

[AVO]

Trust me elle, they're not just gonna close their office and move out of the country just because Azeris are closing theirs.

[elle]

Trust me elle, they're not just gonna close their office and move out of the country just because Azeris are closing theirs.

 

 

Well that's a relief for me!

It was going to be late for me to find anything else anyways.

 

 

Something I was thinking about before...what are the chances that Armenians will hit the oil pipeline that's running close to the area just in case a war breaks out and it seems that this is where all this is leading to.

 

Any thoughts of where all this will lead to? If Armenia fights the same way as during early 1990s and pushes the enemy further...how far can we go? Is there a chance that this time Nakhichevan might be taken over intentionally if the Azeri side starts to loose? I hope I'm not jumping forward with this, but these events might easily happen in a right situation.

What if we push the enemy further...further than where the oil pipeline is located and the Azeri side looses again....does this mean that the portion of the oil pipeline that's running through the newly Armenian controlled territories will benefit us in a way that the BP has to pay us for letting the pipeline run through our controlled territories or because the oil pipeline isn't running in the Armenian legal territoriy, then nothing will be paid to us?

 

If Armenia takes over Nakhichevan, what are the chances of Turkey interfering? I still doubt the Turks will raise a finger because of the Russian bases that are station on the Turkish-Armenian border. I've been to the border myself many years ago and most soldiers at the border (across Ani ruins) were Russian.

 

Finally, if Armenia wins the war and gains more territory, will this be really the end of the war like Oskanian was saying? Wouldn't the same scenario go into circles every 10-15 years?

 

I'm wonder what the reaction of the BP will be when a war breaks out...how much pressure Azerbaijan will get as a result.

[Ashot]

I don't think we have much to worry about, since too many world powers are involved with Armenia... there is absolutely nothing that will threaten Armenia!!!

 

Elle, the OSCE is not only for Azerbadrjani and Armenian cause, it's only the priority!!!

[Ashot]

Elle here you go something helpfull for your internship

 

 

OSCE Office supports training of civil servants on freedom of information

29.03.2008 11:48

 

A project on freedom of information training for civil servant information officers, supported by the OSCE Office, was presented in Yerevan.

 

Under the project, some 90 information officers from central government agencies and all ten regions of Armenia will learn about international standards of free access to information and receive practical guidance on applying the Armenian freedom of information law.

 

"Free access to government-held information is vital for the democratic functioning of any state. We hope that the institutionalization of training for government press officers will assist in the important process of further increasing the openness and transparency of Armenia’s state bodies," said Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

 

The nine-month project will be implemented jointly by the Civil Service Council (CSC) of Armenia and the NGO Freedom of Information Centre (FOIC) and was financed by the Italian government.

 

In line with the Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier this year (on January 11, 2008) by the Office, the CSC and FOIC, a comprehensive training programme on freedom of information will be developed and officially adopted by the CSC into its permanent training curriculum for civil servants. The project also envisages amending the ‘position passports’ (a legal document identifying the scope of responsibilities of the position) for civil service information officers to clearly specify their functions and responsibilities with respect to freedom of information.

 

Armenia adopted a comprehensive Freedom of Information Law in 2003, but the full implementation of the law continues to pose a challenge for national and local authorities.

 

“This project will support reforms in this area by providing government information officers with comprehensive knowledge and skills in freedom of information issues,” said Shushan Doydoyan, President of the FOIC.

 

Manvel Badalyan, CSC Chairman, said: "We should be guided by the idea that in a society each citizen is a partner of the state and should have the right and possibility to receive the needed government-held information and services without any arbitrary obstacles."

 

Public Radio of Armenia

[Aratta-Kingdom]

the azeris got the message.

 

http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=46122

[Aratta-Kingdom]

U.S. OPPOSED TO DISSOLUTION OF MINSK GROUP

 

ARMENPRESS

March 28, 2008

 

YEREVAN, MARCH 28, ARMENPRESS: A U.S. diplomat in Armenia said today

his government is opposed to dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group

because it regards the Group as the only road to achieving a peace

deal on the Nagorno-Artsax conflict.

 

The OSCE Minsk Group, chaired by USA, Russia and France has been

trying for over a decade to help Armenia and Azerbaijan hammer out

a compromise peace deal over Nagorno-Artsax.

 

Joseph Pennington, U.S. charge d'affaires in Armenia, refused to

comment on media reports that Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev

declined a proposal to meet with Armenian president-elect, prime

minister Serzh Sarkisian on the fringes of a NATO summit scheduled

for early in April in Romania's capital Bucharest.

 

Pennington said deputy assistant secretary of state Mathew Bryza,

who is also U.S. cochairman in the Minsk Group, is due in Armenia

soon and will flesh out . He reiterated that the Minsk Group is the

only format that can lead to a peace agreement.

 

Azerbaijan asked the OSCE secretariat to start the process of the

Minsk Group.

 

[Ashot]

Replacement of the Minsk Group co-chairs will give nothing, Azeri MP considers

29.03.2008 14:58

 

Replacement of the OSCE Minsk Group’s Co-Chairs engaged in settling of the Nagorno-Artsax conflict with other mediators will not give results, MP Mubariz Gurbanli, Deputy Executive Secretary of Azerbaijan’s governing New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) said, Trend reports.

 

“Three countries - France, Russia and the United States – are represented in the OSCE Minsk Group and they are the permanent members of the UN Security Council and of the G8. The three countries have great authority in the world. Which other countries can replace them? A mediator should be strong. If strong mediators fail to settle the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, so how will weak intermediaries do that? Through strong countries we have more chances to achieve the goal. Formal participation of weak countries in the Minsk Group will give no result. The problem can be solved within the framework of the OSCEK Minks Group through sticking to the principle that ‘the strong one is the right one’,” Gurbanli said.

 

Several days ago Azerbaijan sent a letter to the OSCE Secretariat urging to recall or replace the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group.

 

Public Radio of Armenia

[elle]

BAKU GOING TO TAKE ACTION TO “LIBERATE TERRITORIES”?

 

“We did not seize a territory of any country. We ourselves suffered from aggression,” said Eldar Sabiroglu, spokesman for the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. “Liberation of our lands from occupation is our civil and national duty and our right. No one can deprive us of this right. Certainly, it would be better to resolve the problem peacefully but the process seems to reach a deadlock and Azerbaijan will take action,” he said. Touching on the Azerbaijan-initiated UN resolution, Sabiroglu sad the document calls for a peaceful resolution of the conflict, “However, the OSCE Minsk Group, which has been dealing with the conflict settlement for 15 years already, questioned the UN General Assembly’s resolution. Azerbaijan has come across an inadequate attitude,” he said, Day.az reports.

[AVO]

Perhaps someone should remind him of Artsvashen. Be prepared to see a lot of this kind of statements until November. This is jr's we're doing something about it campaign to get reelected.

[elle]

Perhaps someone should remind him of Artsvashen. Be prepared to see a lot of this kind of statements until November. This is jr's we're doing something about it campaign to get reelected.

 

 

I didnt' get it sorry...

By jr u mean Bush or Aliev jr?

 

[Ashot]

Elle, Avo meant jr Aliev... he is trying to make sure that he remains the president!

[AK-47]

Baboonistan is a de facto monarchy anyway, I don't think Aliyev is worried about the elections Jr. is probably grooming a family member of his to take his place in the future.

[Ashot]

OSCE workshop in Armenia to focus on cross-border environmental security concerns

03.04.2008 10:22

 

Representatives from the Armenian government and civil society will discuss the importance of integrating environment and security considerations into national policy and planning at a workshop organized by the Environment and Security (ENVSEC) Initiative on Friday.

 

ENVSEC is a joint partnership between the OSCE, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the Regional Environmental Centre for South-Eastern Europe, and the NATO Security through Science Program as an associated partner.

 

ENVSEC works closely with national governments in South Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and South Caucasus to assess and address environmental threats to security, and to promote better regional relations through co-ordinated environmental co-operation.

 

The National Workshop in Yerevan will provide participants with an overview of current ENVSEC activities and will pave the way for further co-operation in the South Caucasus region.

 

Workshops are also being held in Azerbaijan and Georgia this month.

 

Public Radio of Armenia

[Ashot]

ON DETENTION OF OSCE EMPLOYEE

[02:54 pm] 01 April, 2008

 

YEREVAN, 1 April 2008 – In response to numerous enquiries from the media and public regarding the case of detention of a staff member of the OSCE Office in Yerevan and in order to avoid speculations, the Office would like to state the following:

 

On 27 March, at about 18:00, while heading towards the ArmenTel branch office on personal business, a local staff member of the Office and her cousin were stopped on Tumanyan Street by a group of police officers, who ordered to follow them without giving any explanation. The two were forced into a police car and taken to the Shengavit police station. After the Office’s intervention the staff member and her relative were immediately released.

 

The Office expressed its deep concern to the authorities in connection with this deplorable incident and requested clarification.

 

A1Plus

[elle]

KREMLIN CONSULTANT ENCOURAGES ARMENIAN FIRMNESS ON Artsax.

From 1997

 

Interviewed by Armenia's official news agency, the influential Moscow foreign policy expert Andranik Migranian warned against a "danger of Daytonization" in the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. (In Russian analysts' terminology, Daytonization implies--as in Bosnia--a settlement shaped primarily by Western powers, proceeding from their interests and an international order based on the territorial integrity of recognized states).

 

Without criticizing Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosian personally, Migranian refuted Ter-Petrosian's recent proposals for settling the Artsax conflict through a compromise acceptable to the international community and to Azerbaijan. According to Migranian, a settlement shaped by the Western powers would entail Russia's "loss" of Armenia after the "loss" of Azerbaijan and, for the most part, of Georgia. "Russia would then have been pushed out of the Transcaucasus," Migranian warned. He endorsed the positions of the Armenian prime minister, defense minister, and Artsax president, who have openly differed with Ter-Petrosian and "are ready to defend Armenia's interests to the end."

 

According to the Moscow expert, Russia's "patriotic forces," proceeding from strategic interests, will support a firm Armenian stand on Artsax, and can keep Russia's Foreign Ministry from acceding to "a Western version" of conflict settlement. Ter-Petrosian's concessions "could disappoint those political forces that are ready to defend Armenia's interests." By the same token, "a firm Armenian position would help those forces in Russia and the West." (Armenpress, November 24)

 

Migranian is a high-profile member of Russian president Boris Yeltsin's Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, an advisory but influential body. He is associated politically with Russian nationalist circles that promote the reassertion of Russia's influence in the newly independent states in general. Armenia, however, is a special case in that it commands political support in Moscow across the board. Russian nationalist and leftist circles appreciate Armenia's role as Russia's last ally in the South Caucasus. Russian liberals appreciate Armenia's role in bringing down the Soviet system and -- in the case of the consistent liberals -- are also sometimes moved by humanitarian considerations stemming from Armenian history.

 

 

 

[Ashot]

OSCE MG: A peaceful resolution will require a negotiated political compromise on the final status of Artsax

04.04.2008 10:48

 

The Co-Chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group released the following statement yesterday:

 

"On the margins of the NATO summit in Bucharest on April 2-4, 2008, the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassador Yuri Merzlyakov (Russian Federation), Ambassador Bernard Fassier (France), and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza (United States), and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman in Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister and President-elect Serge Sargsyan, together with their Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Elmar Mammadyarov and Vartan Oskanian.

 

"The two leaders and the Co-Chairs exchanged views on ways to reduce differences between the sides and forge consensus on the Basic Principles for the Peaceful Settlement of the Nagorno-Artsax (NK) Conflict.

 

"The Co-Chairs reiterated their support for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and reaffirmed their longstanding view that a peaceful resolution of the conflict will require a negotiated political compromise on the final status of NK, pending the future approval of its population.

 

"The two leaders and the Co-Chairs agreed to continue the negotiations on the existing basis, further clarify the current proposal on the table, and pursue additional steps to advance the peace process. For that purpose, the mediators underscored the utility of meetings at the highest level between the sides as soon as possible."

 

Public Radio of Armenia

[Z'areh]

I think it's about time for a proper and deriding response from the Armenian side to this and recently more vocal Azeri shenanigans. Enough is enough!

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Interfax News Agency

April 2 2008

Russia

 

An Azeri deputy foreign minister has reiterated his country's position

that Azerbaijan will reject any Nagorno-Artsax conflict settlement

formula that involves Nagorno- Artsax's secession from Azerbaijan.

 

"This land must be part of Azerbaijan and it will remain part of

Azerbaijan," Araz Azimov told reporters Tuesday.

 

Azimov also called on Armenian President Robert Kocharian "not to

forget what has happened to leaders of states who have dabbled in

ethnic cleansing."

 

 

 

 

 

 

[edward demian]

I think it's about time for a proper and deriding response from the Armenian side to this and recently more vocal Azeri shenanigans. Enough is enough!

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Interfax News Agency

April 2 2008

Russia

 

An Azeri deputy foreign minister has reiterated his country's position

that Azerbaijan will reject any Nagorno-Artsax conflict settlement

formula that involves Nagorno- Artsax's secession from Azerbaijan.

 

"This land must be part of Azerbaijan and it will remain part of

Azerbaijan," Araz Azimov told reporters Tuesday.

 

Azimov also called on Armenian President Robert Kocharian "not to

forget what has happened to leaders of states who have dabbled in

ethnic cleansing."

 

Why doesn't any one ever suggest this alternative. The re establishment of the Trans Caucasian Republic with the following adjustment; along etnic lines. Some will say that the Azeris will predominate. If you study the ethnic patchwork that makes up Azerbaijian you will see that if you break up the countriy into Persian, Armenian, Kurdish, Talish, Laz, Georgian etc. etc. the actual Azeri (Tatar) component will be much smaller.

That way, neither the Georgians nor the Armenians nor the Azeris will predominate. Everyones "territorial integrity" will be maintained. The Armenians will be free to move around and settle wherever they wanted.

Just immagine what such a republic could accomplish. It would not need any aouside power for protection. Personnaly, I am not ready to trade Russian chains for US or Turkish ones. I don't want a chained Armenia, but a powerfull, free Caucasus doing business with everyone.

[DominO123]

Why doesn't any one ever suggest this alternative. The re establishment of the Trans Caucasian Republic with the following adjustment; along etnic lines. Some will say that the Azeris will predominate. If you study the ethnic patchwork that makes up Azerbaijian you will see that if you break up the countriy into Persian, Armenian, Kurdish, Talish, Laz, Georgian etc. etc. the actual Azeri (Tatar) component will be much smaller.

That way, neither the Georgians nor the Armenians nor the Azeris will predominate. Everyones "territorial integrity" will be maintained. The Armenians will be free to move around and settle wherever they wanted.

Just immagine what such a republic could accomplish. It would not need any aouside power for protection. Personnaly, I am not ready to trade Russian chains for US or Turkish ones. I don't want a chained Armenia, but a powerfull, free Caucasus doing business with everyone.

 

So that Azeri can populate Armenia and Artsakh and dissolve it?

 

Artsakh was never part of the independent republic of Azerbaijan, there is no territorial integrity in that context. They want it, because of an inflated collective ego. Their newly formed identity is a modern creation based on an Azerbaijan which intergrate Artsakh. Their claim over Artsakh is more of a psychosis than anything else.

 

They can wish to take Artsakh, but there is no Armenian government which will ever accept one way or another any resoilution based on an Artsakh included in the borders of Azerbaijan. They can have all the autonomy they want.

 

Those morons have destroyed Armenian cultural heritage in Nakhichevan and Azerbaijan, they have played with the history of the region and they think that any Armenian who has some sense of reality will buy their promesses?

 

Their threats don't worth sh!t, we know what is an occupational army..., we've seen it with the Americans in Iraq, and the Azeri are not the Americans.

[Ashot]

Work of the Finnish OSCE Chairmanship to continue, says new Finnish Foreign Minister

 

05.04.2008 11:26

 

Alexander Stubb was appointed as Foreign Minister of Finland today. The new Minister, serving also as the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, pledged to push ahead with Finland's Chairmanship priorities.

 

“The Finnish Chairmanship will pursue the detailed schedule of work that builds on the OSCE's strengths as a forum for dialogue and a platform for action across Europe," the new Chairman-in-Office said.

 

Priorities of the 2008 Finnish OSCE Chairmanship include progress towards resolving the region's protracted conflicts, enhancing engagement with Afghanistan as well as co-operation on maritime and inland waterways, combating trafficking in human beings, promoting tolerance and non-discrimination and gender equality.

 

Publci Radio of Armenia