There is no lack of charges left in failing to execute their mediation mission by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, especially when their visits to the region are becoming quite often, however, the results are nowhere visible. Nevertheless, currently the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs are obviously trying to do something, moreover, in the situation, when it seems that on the background of Ukrainian events, other things in the world are not so significant. In fact, at all levels, before and after various discussions, they speak and judge about Ukraine, Crimea and related issues, moreover, in the context of Karabakh, too. This is paid attention at the level of co-chairs, as recently an American co-chair has made a record in his Twitter micro blog that there are concerns about increase of tension in the Karabakh zone on the background of Ukrainian events. The point, however, it is not really about it rather than about really observed activation by the co-chairs, which the OSCE Minsk Group is trying to display, apparently preparing the parties for some new “Kazan” meeting, which actually did not succeed on June 2011. Since February 22 to March 11, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs James Warlick, Igor Popov and Jacques Faure had series of meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan first in Paris and then in Moscow. In the meantime, the U.S. diplomat managed to visit Sweden and Turkey to discuss the Karabakh issue. As to on what grounds, and in what context, it is not yet clear, however, it is clear that MG has passed to multi-front activity. On March 12, the co-chairs had disseminated a press release from Moscow informing that they will be visiting the region in the next month to continue the negotiations at the high-level within the framework of the preparatory work. The announcement placed in the OSCE official website does not say a word about the upcoming meeting of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, with regard to which the American co-chair James Warlick had cherished a hope in his own Twitter micro blog on March 11. The U.S. diplomat noted that they hope that the meeting between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia will be held in March. But as far as the official announcement states about the visit of co-chairs to the region on April, it turns out that the meeting of the presidents is again postponed to an unknown terms. In this case, though Warlick’s activation in Twitter is welcomed that can provide some insight about non-priority, however, still important elements, at the same time it shows that the statements followed by the previous post are mere diplomatic expressions. In particular, after stating about the possible meeting of the presidents, Warlick posted a record that the discussions with the Azerbaijan Minister of Foreign Affairs were productive, which was followed by a statement from Azerbaijan that the Armenian side is deconstructive, whereas “Azerbaijan is ready for signing a comprehensive peace agreement.” As to what agreement they meant in Azerbaijan, it is a question of guessing, since they are not agreed upon in principle. In any case, the next post in the Twitter by the same American diplomat seemed to be reacting to the absurd statement of the Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the meeting with the Foreign Minister of Armenia, according to Warlick, it was established that Armenia is striving for a peaceful settlement. Based on the available information, it can be concluded that Azerbaijan is the owner of the destiny of postponing the meeting at the level of presidents, where an approach which the co-chair Warlick is considering “a strive for a peaceful settlement” is qualified as deconstructive.” Once again…
Aghavni HARUTYUNYAN
