Status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is unacceptable, EU South Caucasus envoy says

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Mətbuat xidmətinin məlumatı 30 April, 2015

The European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus Herbert Salber has said the status quo in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not acceptable. Mr Salber said the dispute could not be considered frozen as he met Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Committee on Refugees and IDPs Ali Hasanov in Baku. He said the conflict can flare up at any time, adding it should be solved as soon as possible. He stressed the importance of ensuring the release of Azerbaijanis hostages Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev from Armenian captivity. Mr Salber, who visited IDPs living in student dormitories, hailed the conditions created for refugees and IDPs in Azerbaijan. Mr. Hasanov applauded relations between Azerbaijan and the EU, saying the country was “open to the whole world”. He said Azerbaijan is committed to all international conventions it is party to and obligations. The Deputy Prime Minister said the country “is playing an important role in ensuring the energy security of Europe”. He expressed regret over “the existence of double standards” in the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. “Unfortunately, the OSCE and other international organizations do not press on the aggressor country. The international organizations should increase their activity in this regard,” he added. Mr Hasanov expressed regret that “the presidents of Russia and France attended the events marking the 100th anniversary of the so-called Armenian genocide in Yerevan, adding “this casts doubt on fairness of their position as the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group on the settlement of the dispute”. Reminding regular meetings and wide exchange of views with OSCE Representatives on the questions connected with the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister expressed confidence that the discussions would yield positive results. Noting the high level of relations between OSCE and Azerbaijan, Ali Hasanov told that along with this organization, resolutions on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were adopted also by the UN Security Council and other international structures. “Unfortunately, all these resolutions remain on paper. We hope that requirements of these resolutions will be fulfilled. But if to pay attention to the processes happening today in the world, one can think that settlement of this conflict will take away a lot of time”, he stressed. The Deputy Prime Minister saying our country is pursuing an independent policy emphasized that now Azerbaijan is in the centre of attention in the world. Today, we are not recognized as a country of oil and gas, but as a country realizing global projects and hosting essential events towards the solution of universal problems. We can show as an example “Eurovision” song contest, First European Olympic Games held in Baku for the first time, international dialogue forums and many other similar events. Ali Hasanov gave detailed information to the guests about Azerbaijani realities, Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the history of the problem and the status of refugees and internally displaced persons in our country. Noting that our country has faced with a serious problem as the Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict after the restoration of independence and no progress has been able to achieve for settlement of the conflict till now, Ali Hasanov has mentioned that he expressed his regret that world community and powerful countries does not take advantage of influence and pressure to aggressor Armenia and shut their eyes to the restoration of justice and 1 million 200 thousand of our compatriots are suffering from all of them. Deputy Prime Minister has stressed that UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on the liberation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and the return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their native lands. Armenia's aggressive policy has also been condemned in the decisions and resolutions adopted by OSCE, PACE, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Non-Aligned Movement and other international organizations. Unfortunately, these decisions and resolutions are still on paper. Ignoring the demands of the international community, Armenia continues its illegal activities in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group which was created for the peaceful settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict, regularly deal with this issue, but there is no consequence of their activities. Main reason for this is Armenia's non-constructive position and attempts to keep the conflict in a frozen situation. Ali Hasanov has also noted that this situation is very dangerous for the whole region. Therefore, international organizations dealing with the solution of the conflict for a long time and the leading countries of the world represented in the OSCE Minsk Group should ensure the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and should be able to achieve the restoration of peace and justice in the region. Unless, these states should step aside and Azerbaijan and Armenia must solve this problem by themselves alone. Because these people have lived in the neighborhood for 200 years and they should live hereafter. He also criticized “inactivity” of the international community towards releasing Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev.