Friday, November 8 2019 18:14

ArmInfo.The OSCE operational mechanism for resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is unique. APA reports that the French co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group   Stephane Visconti said this at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent  Council on November 7 during his discussion of the report submitted  by the co-chairs on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"We are pleased that the three co-chairing countries are working  confidently and speaking with one voice." said Visconti.

The French co-chair added that important monitoring conducted by the  personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej  Kasprzyk and his team is developing the activities of the Minsk  Group.  This format is an appropriate mechanism for conflict  resolution. Like you, I regularly hear criticism from outside the  organization that the conflict has lasted for more than 25 years, and  sometimes the co-chairs cannot solve the crisis. Some radicals  require the process to start from scratch, and some offer new  approaches. I can honestly say that the suggestions made are  unrealistic. Impatience is understandable. However, it should be  understood that the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group can act only in  accordance with the mandate of the mediator. Co-chairs make  proposals, help, and sometimes inspire parties with great courage.  However, Co- Chairs are note mandated to coercively impose a solution  on the parties. We have to be aware that this difficult task is being  done by our small team. As a result of our cautious but repetitive  efforts, we contribute to the process by offering creative approaches  to negotiation behind closed doors, as well as stabilizing the  situation and saving lives. Efforts to persuade the parties to the  peace and the privileges it seeks are implemented through regular  dialogue."said the French mediator, while stating that it was  necessary to be aware that this little work was being done by their  small team.

Visconti stated that they are contributing to the process by offering  a constructive approach to negotiations behind closed doors thanks to  restrained but repetitive intensive efforts, as well as by  stabilizing the situation and saving lives.  "The efforts to convince  the parties of the possibility of peace and the concessions required  for this are carried out through constant dialogue. The situation in  the region has recently been stable. "This is an indisputable fact.  After a meeting of the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Dushanbe  in September 2018, this positive situation emerged. The leaders of  both countries should be respected and responsible. Dialogue on the  political front has never been stopped, and it has recently become  more and more reliable. In this regard, I would like to recall the  momentum given in the negotiations between the President of  Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol  Pashinyan in Ashgabat,"continued the French mediator.

The co-chair stressed that the French government believes in the  importance of the official commitment of the parties to prepare the  people for peace: "This concept, first introduced in Milan, during  our meeting with Foreign Ministers Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Elmar  Mammadyarov on January 16 in Paris, gave a decisive impetus to this  concept. This has long been a prerequisite for progress towards the  settlement of the ongoing conflict. Without the support of the  nations that are ready for peace, without the removal of negative  stereotypes, without encouraging mutual respect, and without  reconciling individual relationships between affected families and  citizens. France also believes that women in the region should be  encouraged to engage in dialogue without hesitation. Recently, during  meetings with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and  Azerbaijan, we discussed the importance of increasing the role of  women in this issue.  Both sides welcomed this idea,"the French  diplomat said.

At the same time, Visconti noted that the French government remains  committed to the activities of the International Committee of the Red  Cross: "Gathering information on missing persons, in particular, is  welcome. This is an initiative approved by the highest authorities on  both sides at the December 2015 Paris Summit. Many families hope to  get information about their loved ones, no matter where they are.  This humanitarian action has been successfully implemented in several  conflicts. The president of the International Committee of the Red  Cross, Peter Maurer, confirmed that his team is ready for it. They  need active support from relevant parties.  I would like to conclude  that France is committed to its continued efforts to find a fair and  balanced solution for the stability and prosperity of the peoples of  the region. The status quo is not for anyone's interest. We will do  our best to move in this direction."