Warlick has not said anything new. Serzh Sargsyan’s posture remains the same
The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs visit to the region is planned for the next week. On July 20, it is anticipated that they will arrive in Armenia and on July 21 – in Azerbaijan. The main purpose of the co-chairs’ visit is the planning of the next meeting between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. OSCE Minsk Group US Co-chair James Warlick who was recently in Moscow for the discussions on the Nagorno-Karabakh, gave interview to Russian newspapers “Vedomosti” and “Dozd” saying that he could not meet with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow as the latter was in Vienna, however, he has met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Karasin. We reaffirmed that the United States, Russia, and France should continue to participate in the search for solutions together to develop the agenda. And we look forward to the meeting of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan this year. But for that meeting to be successful, we have to prepare the discussion,” said Warlick.
The American co-chair’s statements again have caused discussions, as he had stated, “The occupied territories must be returned to Azerbaijan in the context of the complex settlement. It is important not to focus on one element or a principle of the settlement. The territories must be returned, but there are other factors.” To the question of specifically what issues were discussed, Warlick replied, “As you know, for many years Russia played an active role in the negotiations on the settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh. We’re talking about specific principles and elements of a settlement. Many of them were established during the negotiations, which were held by then-President Medvedev. This is a continuation of what was done then. We are not trying to invent new questions or new approaches. We are trying to continue to lead the discussion on the basis of what has been achieved then. This applies to a number of important issues. Among them is the return of the territories around Nagorno-Karabakh, the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, the situation with refugees, security guarantees. These are all issues that have been on the agenda for many years, and we consider all of this in a package,” stressed Warlick.
Warlick’s message is clear: not to focus on the specific principles and elements of a settlement, and “if the territories are returned, then it would be necessary to enter peacekeeping forces for the security of Karabakh.” Although Warlick has mentioned that at this stage there is no talk about peacekeeping forces, he however, still talking about security guarantees, has pointed out the possible role of the OSCE military experts who can develop the issue of deployment of international peacekeepers. Here, prior to the upcoming talks, the US co-chair seems to be trying to touch upon the stance of Azerbaijani authorities on deployment of peacekeepers as if making it clear that “if you want occupied territories, then tell us whom you see in the role of peacemakers…”.
Read also
As for the criticism addressed to Warlick with regard to the statement of the “return of the occupied territories,” then first of all we should pay attention on his wording about “there are other factors too” and “settlement in a package”. Here, the matter is about the security guarantees, which include the deployment of international peacekeeping forces. In addition, prior to nailing the co-chairs to the barn-door on every opportunity, the critics flaunt their ignorance about the Madrid principles put on the Karabakh settlement table. Warlick actually has not said anything new, his position is also shared by other co-chair countries – Russia and France.
In November of 2007, in Madrid, the US, France and Russia submitted a preliminary option of Basic Principles for the settlement to Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Basic Principles mirror a compromise based on the non-use of the force, territorial integrity, people’s equal rights and self-determination based on the principles of the Helsinki Final Act. As Basic principles, the mediators are viewing the following: return of the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijani control, an interim status for Nagorno-Karabakh, which should provide guarantees for security and self-governance, Armenia should have a corridor linking to Nagorno-Karabakh, Nagorno-Karabakh’s final legal status should be determined through legally binding expression of will, the internal deported and the refugees should have the right to return to their former permanent residential places and international security guarantees that would include a peacekeeping activities.
We would like to remind those who are surprised by Warlick’s statement that official Yerevan adopts the Madrid Principles as a foundation for the settlement and since 2007, it is officially negotiating with Azerbaijan on these very principles, while the official Baku is consistently looking for opportunities to keeping the negotiations in a deadlock. In addition, last year, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, in his interview with “Al-Watan” newspaper, has made the same interpretations as Warlick in his interview with “Vedomosti” daily. “When the people of Nagorno-Karabakh get a real opportunity to implement its right to self-determination and when practical mechanisms of security and development are created, the return of these territories to Azerbaijan may be viewed as a concession from the Armenian side, of course in case the corridor linking Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh is kept,” announced Serzh Sargsyan.
Emma GABRIELYAN,
“Aravot” daily,
16.07.2015
