InternationalThe mediators are not physicians
Published: Saturday September 27, 2008
Yerevan - From time to time Azerbaijan criticizes the OSCE Minsk Group, claiming that the mediators do not work hard enough toward the resolution of the conflict. The president of Turkey too questioned the effectiveness of the co-chairs during his visit to Baku. Armenia takes a different view.
Mr. Nalbandian told Arminfo, "The Minsk Group is the working process for resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It has shown its vitality and it enjoys the support of the international community. The proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs remain the basis for the ongoing negotiations, and the format remains the format for the negotiations. I think there are good conditions today for the resolution of the conflict."
The co-chairs likewise think that the Minsk Group has made a big contribution to the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "The Minsk Group will continue its activities, independent of the issues that exist in the relationship with Russia," said Matthew Bryza, the U.S. co-chair.
French co-chair Bernard Fassier announced just recently in Yerevan that Turkey's efforts to help resolve the Karabakh conflict do not presume a change in the negotiation process. "Since Turkey is even a member of the OSCE Minsk Group, Turkey's efforts do not presume a chance in process," he said.
The third co-chair state, Russia, in the person of President Dmitry Medvedev, has announced hat Moscow will continue to help resolve the Karabakh conflict. "We support the continuation of direct negotiations between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia," he said after a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan on September 16.
Mr. Mayilian, who participated in negotiations in the mid-1990s as part of the Karabakh delegation, recalls that there have been periods when the "Karabakh arena" has been almost the sole issue on which Russia and the United States have cooperated. In his view, notwithstanding the criticism, the OSCE Minsk process remains the optimal format for resolving the conflict.
"The diplomats of the two Armenian states must work, on the one hand, toward the recognition of NKR by individual states, and on the other, help the OSCE Minsk Group format, to the end that NKR fully participate in the negotiation process," he said.
Mr. Pogosian doesn't think that the Minsk Group has failed. Azerbaijan, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, and Armenia have failed to reach agreement as of this moment, he said.
The Minsk Group have done their best, he said. "With all their ability to honestly mediate," however, the mediators also have interests of their own, he said, "and that is why we have what we have. But the blame for failure could only lie with the sides of the conflict which have not reach any agreement or have no intention to take real and serious steps to work in that direction. I don't think that any initiative can bring to any way out if the sides are not willing to do it," Mr. Pogosian said.
In Mr. Babayan's view, changing the format of the negotiations is a complex issue and depends on many factors. "Nonetheless, if the Minsk Group format becomes impossible to maintain, even then, some time will be needed to create a new format. It is not out of the question that a few formats will be created in parallel. But whatever is created, the following principles must be maintained: NKR must be recognized as a full-fledged side to the conflict and the negotiations, the consensus principle must be maintained, and the principle that nothing is decided until everything is decided," he said.
According to Mr. Giragosian, despite the obvious tension between the United States and Russia, both Washington and Moscow want to maintain the status quo of the peace process for Karabakh and both are equally concerned over the danger of Azerbaijan resuming hostilities and threatening war over Karabakh.
"There is no viable apparent alternative to the Minsk Group process. But the one most important factor missing from the peace process is the fact that Karabakh has no place at the table. The real key to success for the peace process does not involve Russia or the United States, and certainly does not involve Turkey. The real key to progress in the peace process is to include the democratically elected government of Karabakh as an equal party to the conflict and to grant Stepanakert an equal seat at the peace table. Karabakh has been prevented form holding equal status with Yerevan and Baku for too long. Now is the time, especially after lessons from Georgia, to include Karabakh in the peace process. This is the only avenue toward real stability in this region".
