OSCE: Commitment to int’l law set aside in Karabakh conflict

COSCE PA President George Tsereteli made the remarks during the Third Meeting of Speakers of Eurasian Countries’ Parliaments on October 10.

Tsereteli expressed regret that the continuing tension in the Eurasian region leads to significant gaps between the countries.

“Conflicts are flaring at every corner of Eurasia. Commitment to OSCE principles and to international law have been set aside in the case of Ukraine, Georgia, and in the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh,” Tsereteli underlined.

By its geopolitical significance and the risk of escalating into a war spanning a whole region, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict obviously ranks first among all conflicts in post-Soviet Eurasia.

The Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the seizure by the Armenian aggressors of a significant part of Azerbaijan’s territories have for quite a long time remained the most important factor influencing the fate of the peoples living in the South Caucasus and the geopolitical configuration in the region.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has become predominantly a problem of international importance. After Azerbaijan became a member of the Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), in accordance with the principles of this organization, the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was in the focus of public participants.

The OSCE Minsk Group, which, along with the co-chairs - Russia, the U.S. and France - includes Belarus, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Finland and Turkey, was established for settlement of the conflict.

Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a lengthy war that ended with signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Since the war began, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign state with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years.

Until now, Armenia ignores four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping tension high in the region. ommitment to OSCE principles and international law have been set aside in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.