Kozhara’s haste is understandable, the end of Ukrainian presidency in OSCE is approaching, Ukraine assumed the presidency in OSCE since January 2013. Back in mid-June, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, OSCE Chairman Leonid Kozhara’s official visit to the region was expected. Kozhara’s special representative (in conflict issues) Andrew Deshitsa through Ukrainian mass media stated that that the main purpose of this visit will be the Nagorno-Karabakh, South Ossetia and Abkhazia conflicts debate. “The settlement of current conflicts within the OSCE is the priorities of Ukraine presidency in OSCE,”- highlighted Deshitsa. A few days later, the Ukrainian “Zerkalo nedeli” (translator’s not – “Mirror of the week”) online weekly, www.Zn.ua , referring to its sources, said that the Foreign Minister of Ukraine may possibly declare the South Caucasus tour devoted to settlement of frozen conflicts cancelled. www.Zn.ua wrote that the visit of Kozhara to the region may be canceled due to the vacation of the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, and Kozhara may refuse to visit Armenia and Azerbaijan, if a meeting with the leaders of these countries is not organized. “During the presidency in OSCE, Ukraine’s position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was “non-violation of the balance,”- wrote www.Zn.ua. Kiev offered to arrange a meeting between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Moreover, as noted by Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the media that the level of threat for ‘explosion’ of situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is pretty high.” On June 14, Kozhara had met with OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs engaged in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as with the OSCE CiO Personal Representative Andrzej Kasprzyk. On June 18, in the interview with the Russian “Nezavisimaya Gazeta” (translator’s note – “Independent Newspaper”) Andrew Deshitsa said that Leonid Kozhara’s visits to Baku and Yerevan have been delayed, due to the need to organize a meeting with the heads of states. “Paying a great attention to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, we believe that the issue should be discussed at the highest level,” – said the diplomat, assuring that the new date is agreed. Kozhara’s haste is understandable. Ukraine’s presidency in OSCE is coming to the end, its’ time to wrap up the results, and recording a significant progress in NK issue, under the auspices of the Ukraine, it is highly desirable for that country. But it seems that the ambitious aspirations of Ukraine are not realized.
While there is still time before the end of the year, hardly the Ukrainian presidency is signified as an achievement recorded phase in the history of NK settlement. However, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Leonid Kozhara’s long-deferred and postponed visit to Armenia took place yesterday. At a joint press conference followed by the negotiations with RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan, Kozhara stated in his words that this is the third meeting with the RA Foreign Minister in six months, and as for the priorities of Ukraine presidency in OSCE, according to Kozhara, the Armenian side supports. The settlement of “frozen conflicts” for Ukraine’s presidency is a priority,- emphasized Kozhara. Then he added that Ukraine considers that the negotiation process should be actively continued. In the process of conflict settlement, we are interested that the interaction are permanent and often, he said, adding that although they support the OSCE Minsk Group, but believe that it should work actively to produce result of their efforts, it is necessary to conduct a productive work in the process of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. OSCE Chairperson-in-Office also highlighted the ties between the Armenian and Azerbaijani civil societies. “We believe that both Armenia and Azerbaijan civil society members should meet often, and Ukraine may provide assistance to host roundtables and conferences for it.”
E. Nalbandyan, referring to the statement of the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov that during the last debates in Vienna, as if, it was signified that the Karabakh conflict settlement process can be continued if “Armenia frees the occupied territories.” The RA Foreign Minister said that it is not the first time that Azerbaijan disseminates distorted information about the subject discussed during the negotiations. He noted that during the last debate, they were discussing the ways of peaceful settlement of the conflict, as well as a schedule of meetings in the coming months. By the end of the year, there is a principle of understanding in organizing a high-level meeting between Armenia and Azerbaijan,- said Nalbandyan, adding that the last planned meeting was canceled because of Azerbaijan. At the end of the debates at the RA Foreign Ministry, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office hurried to a meeting with NKR President Bako Sahakyan. “President Sahakyan considers the destructive policies of official Baku to be the biggest obstacle in the settlement of Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict, which gradually becomes more dangerous, and should deserve the assessment appropriate to the international community,” – says the official release.
EMMA GABRIELYAN
“Aravot” daily
