YEREVAN (Hayastani Hanrapetutiun)–According to a report of the Azeri State Information Agency–a delegation of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe visited the Gyandja and Tartar districts of Azerbaijan–as well as the border zone–working on the development of a project on installing OSCE peace-keeping troops in the conflict zone.
The purpose of the visit–as explained by delegation leader General Michel Ketzinger–was not only to understand and become acquainted with the region–but also to study the prospects of conflict resolution.
Ketzinger also announced–during an interview with the Azeri News Agency–that the group will recommend that Gyandja–or Gandzak as it is known in Armenian–will serve as the entry point and the headquarters of the OSCE peace-keeping forces–the deployment of which will be assessed and finalized by the OSCE Minsk Group.
The General stated that his delegation’s findings will be reported to the OSCE Minsk Group–while the final decision on the deployment will be following an approval by the sides to conflict.
He explained that the peace-keeping mission will be decided upon in Vienna–following the signing of a peace agreement there. The budget for this venture will also be included in the delegation’s report to the OSCE Minsk Group.
The General further emphasized that the peace-keeping forces would not be responsible to punish or call to task any side which violates the peace agreement–adding that the forces main purpose was to maintain peace and to secure the implementation of the provisions of the peace agreement.
The delegation held talks with the executive authorities of the districts and received their guarantees for collaboration.
As reported–Russian President Boris Yeltsin declared in Kishinev that military officials responsible for the alleged illegal weaponry supply to Armenia have been fired.
Azeri President Gaidar Aliyev also spoke in Kishinev. He expressed worries for the slow course of investigations of the illegal weaponry supply and said that firing the officials is a weak measure. He declared that this is not sufficient and the weaponry should be returned to Russia and only then the problem will be solved.
