YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—International mediators proposed unpublicized ways of kick-starting the stalled Nagorno-Karabakh peace process during renewed Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations that were organized by them in Paris over the weekend.
Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s foreign ministers met in the presence of the U.S., Russian and French diplomats co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group for the first time since an international scandal sparked by the release from prison of an Azerbaijani army officer who hacked to death an Armenian colleague in Hungary.
“The Co-Chairs stressed to the Ministers the importance of reducing tensions among the parties. They presented their ideas on a working proposal to advance the peace process,” the mediating troika said in a statement issued on Sunday.
“The Foreign Ministers reiterated their determination to continue working with the Co-Chairs to reach a peaceful settlement. The Ministers and the Co-Chairs agreed to a further discussion of these ideas during the Co-Chairs’ visit to the region in November,” said the statement.
The foreign ministries in Baku and Yerevan issued virtually identical statements on the Paris talks.
It was not clear if the mediators’ proposal relates to confidence-building measures in the conflict zone or the essence of their draft framework peace accord submitted to the conflicting parties last year. The latter disagree on some key details of the proposed Basic Principles of resolving the Karabakh conflict.
Further talks between the two sides were effectively frozen after the Azerbaijani axe-murderer Ramil Safarov was released from a Hungarian prison and given a hero’s welcome in Azerbaijan on August 31. The Armenian government reacted furiously to the development and faced domestic calls to pull out of the Karabakh peace process.
The Minsk Group co-chairs held separate crisis talks with Nalbandian and Mammadyarov in Paris just days after Safarov was pardoned and promoted by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. In an ensuing joint statement, they expressed “deep concern” at the pardon, saying that it undermined their efforts to broker a peaceful settlement.
The mediators with foreign minister Eduard Nalbandian and Elmar Mammadyarov (center) in Paris on Saturday
Just pick a list of statements that piece of waste Mammadyarov has made in the past 12 months and mediate that, mediators. Good luck!
As usual Russia stays silent instead of helping devide the terrorist state of Azerbaijan between IRAN and Armenia
Meet for what? Artsakh is free and independent and ours. Do you understand? Yes you! Do not waste our time.
Why even bother speaking to them – Armenia should be bold enough to tell Azerbaijan that negotiations will not continue until there is an apology and compensation for Safarov’s actions….this will make that supposed peace group nervous as well
I wonder…. Lets say Azerbaijan will admit independence of Karabakh. What about Lachin,and other towns that are not even in Karabakh region? Most importantly if Karabakh is independent how in the world this goverment will survive in future economicaly (without American Armenian support)? I assume Karabakh would love to be freindly with Azerbaijan BUT is this even possible now? It is easy to yell Karabakh is independent and free!!! Independent? Where would this freedom be without sponsorship from USA and other places where Armenians have strong community. I am 100% against war and terror and I think the solution should be effective for both parties. How people that sat at the same table and ate same bread for years and now are enemies?!
Where were you for the last 20 years? “Karabakh” and “Lachin” were then. Due to the Azeri Turk aggression and brutal war against Artsakh Republic ancient Armenian lands were liberated and re-integrated into the new state.
Artsakh is now independent and just fine. Unlike the dirty oil sultanate next door it has no dependency on depleting natural resources. Better think where Axerbaijan will be in 20 years when oil dries out.
Տրամաբանական Լուծու՞մ
Տրամաբանական Լուծում կարելի չէ ակնկալ Թիմուրլէնկի գոչուոր զաւակներէն, որոնց նպատակը եղած է միշտ արշաւել, կործանել, սպանել եւ գրաւել.
Հանդիպումնրը օգտակար կրնան ըլլալ տեսնելու համար բարբարոսին երկաթէ ատամները, որպէսզի գիտնանք պէտք եղած գործիքները զանոնք արմատախիլ ընելու եւ զիրենք վտարելու մեր պատմական հազարամեայ. հողերէն.
Վահան Վանական