Political decisions should determine the format of peacekeeping operations and the possible deployment of peacekeepers, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said at an international forum in Yerevan on October 5.
Nalbandian stressed the need to exert more efforts towards peaceful resolution of the conflicts within the OSCE through negotiations.
"The OSCE Minsk Group was set up to resolve the Karabakh conflict. So, all international efforts, including the OSCE efforts should be exerted within the framework of the specified format and in line with its approaches," said Nalbandian.
He added that the team of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office helps the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.
Nalbandian is convinced that the co-chairs' proposal to create mechanisms to investigate the incidents will be an important measure of confidence and security.
The Armenian foreign minister recalled that on September 28 the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs reaffirmed that proposal. "The OSCE MG co-chairs have repeatedly stated that the international security guarantees, including peacekeeping missions are the fundamental elements of settlement of the Karabakh conflict," he said.
For his part, Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan noted that the role of peacekeepers is growing in the modern world with many trouble spots.
"Maintaining peace and ensuring security are a priority for the international community and peacekeepers play an important role here. Armenia is committed to maintaining peace and security," he said. He added that the geography of the Armenian servicemen's participation in peacekeeping missions is extending with every passing year.
He recalled that Armenian servicemen carried out a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, Iraq, Lebanon, and Afghanistan. This year, they are also taking part in peacekeeping operations in Mali.
The two-day international forum in Yerevan covers peacekeeping problems. Participating in the event are five permanent members of the UN General Assembly, representatives of the United States, Russia, the UK, France, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Japan, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Egypt, Australia, as well as defense attaches at the foreign embassies in Armenia, the head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan and international experts.