ArmInfo.The parliamentary factions of Armenia disagree on the latest statement of the OSCE Minsk Group.
"The last statement of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs is worrying for us," Iveta Tonoyan, MP from the Prosperous Armenia faction, said at a briefing in the National Assembly. The concern of the "prosperous" MPs, in particular, was caused by the fact that the statement did not mention the Vienna and St. Petersburg agreements to create an environment of trust at the front line. "The fact that the last statement of the mediators in Baku was received with great enthusiasm speaks volumes already," Tonoyan stressed. She also stressed that the provisions on concessions from the Armenian side, which found a place in the statement of the co-chairs, are not acceptable against the background of the militaristic threats of Baku.
"I want to note that the only solution to the Karabakh issue is international recognition of the Republic of Artsakh, there can be no other opinion," Tonoyan said, adding that the fate of Karabakh cannot be resolved without taking into account the opinion of Karabakh people.
In turn, MP from the faction of the ruling "My Step"bloc, head of the commission on state and legal issues, Vladimir Vardanyan, on the contrary, said that the Minsk Group co-chairs had nothing out of the ordinary. "This is the position of the mediators, but not the position of Armenia. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan voiced the position of Armenia more than once. During the negotiation process, the parties may express different approaches to the Karabakh settlement, but so far these are just suggestions," Vardanyan stressed. Citing Pashinyan, he stressed that as a result of the negotiations, a solution must be found that would satisfy the people of Armenia, Artsakh and Azerbaijan. "I want to note that with their statement the co-chairs of the Minsk Group just summed up the agenda, which took place before the velvet revolution in the country," Vardanyan stressed.
Referring to the situation in which the mediators talk about the inexpediency of changing the negotiation format, the MP suggested that in this case it is about the format of the OSCE Minsk Group itself. At the same time, Vardanyan assessed the statement rather positively, as it calls on the parties for an exclusively peaceful settlement of the conflict on the basis of the Helsinki principles.
"I want to note that such statements have been made before, and it's not necessary to take the thoughts out of context, try to make a sensation out of it. This is a common diplomatic statement," Vardanyan stressed.
Head of the Bright Armenia faction Edmon Marukyan said that this statement can hardly be called positive. "There are several points in the statement that are cause for concern. Well, take, for example, at least the fact that the statement says about the need to hold a new referendum on the status of Artsakh, while in 1991 a referendum was held, on its basis, Artsakh is self-determined, and no one has the right to ignore it, "the MP stressed.
Marukyan noted that the statement of the mediators about the impossibility of changing the format of the negotiations was in hand to Baku. The MP expressed concern over the provision on the transfer of territories under the control of Artsakh to Azerbaijan. At the same time, Marukyan noted that the situation is complicated by the fact that they are trying to decide the fate of Artsakh without his participation. And this is impossible. Moreover, he noted, there is a tough confrontation in the positions of the parties, Azerbaijan is not ready to recognize the independence of Artsakh, Armenia will not make territorial concessions. "But negotiating is better than fighting," concluded Marukyan.
To note, the latest statement of the OSCE Minsk Group, in particular, refers to the inexpediency of changing the current format of negotiations, the transfer of territories under the control of the Armenian side, the postponed referendum on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh and the return of refugees to their places of early residence.