The issue of Armenian prisoners of war was raised during the session of the OSCE Political and Security Committee, as well as at the sessions of other OSCE commissions. Although the Azeri delegates tried to present that they had returned all the prisoners of war and the Karabakh conflict was resolved, the representatives of Canada and France, for example, defended the interests of Armenia. But they were accused by the Turks and Azeris. OSCE Rapporteur Laurynas Kasciunas presented a report on “Strengthening Multilateralism in the World Crisis”, which also touched upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (Chapter 3.2). Here, Azerbaijan is urged to adhere to the principle of “all for all” and return all prisoners of war. The report also states that the OSCE Minsk Group is the only measure of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Azeri delegate, OSCE PA Vice President Azay Guliyev suggested in his speech that the report replace the subsection on Nagorno-Karabakh with the situation in the post-conflict period between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He noted, “There is no such thing as the so-called Karabakh conflict anymore after the November 10th trilateral agreement.”
He announced that Armenia is not providing Azerbaijan with the minefield maps, and Azeris are suffering because of that. He also spoke about the importance of demarcation and delimitation, noting that Armenia and Azerbaijan need to carry that out without the involvement of any third party.
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Member of the Armenian delegation to the OSCE PA, Hayk Konjoryan, said that Azerbaijan carried out aggression towards Artsakh and the Armenian people with the help of Turkey and terrorists. Citing the November 10th agreement, he said, “Azerbaijan was obligated to return Armenian POWs immediately and without any preconditions. Unfortunately, Azerbaijan did not carry out its obligations as outlined in the trilateral agreement. Azerbaijan continues its inhumane treatment towards the Armenian POWs.
The European Parliament has adopted a resolution on Armenian prisoners of war, demanding the immediate return of those captured after the war without preconditions. Azerbaijan was asked to provide information about the health status of those people, as well as about those killed. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan does not fulfill this demand. Armenian prisoners of war continue to be subjected to inhumane treatment in Azerbaijan.” Hayk Konjoryan also stated with regret that Azerbaijan, violating the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia, has been in the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia since May 20th.
Hripsime Grigoryan, another member of the Armenian delegation to the OSCE PA, responded to Azay Guliyev’s statement that the report should replace the subsection on Nagorno Karabakh with the situation between Armenia and Azerbaijan after the conflict.
The Armenian delegate announced, “In fact, it is a great mistake of Azerbaijan to think that it is ever possible to convince the world that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is about a territorial issue and not about individuals. Meanwhile, it is a matter of self-determination of nations. We must all help Azerbaijan understand that the conflict is not over. I must disappoint Azay Guliyev and Aigul Kuspan of Kazakhstan in their convictions and note that the OSCE is the only internationally-recognized format for resolving the Artsakh conflict.”
Tatev Harutyunyan
