Friday, November 13 2015 13:31

Baku responded to the Minsk Group co-chairs' statement.

"In the negotiating process the co-chairs are required to be neither judges nor advocates, but only to ensure implementation of the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly, documents of Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Conference, the PACE, as well as the relevant decisions of the European Court of Human Rights concerning the settlement of the conflict, reflecting the will of the international community", head of the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev told APA commenting on the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group on November 12, 2015.

As APA reports, Hajiyev noted that the co-chairs in their statement say about the willingness to cooperate with other international organizations interested in the conflict settlement, noting that they are neither judges nor advocates for the sides of conflict.

"The attitude of the co-chairs being in monopolistic positions in the negotiation process to the appropriate resolution and the report of the PACE, as well as fundamental documents on settlement of the conflict of other international organizations, in fact, once again demonstrated the extent of their "readiness" to cooperate with other international organizations" APA quotes him as saying. 

At the same time Hajiyev noted that In the context of the facts of "occupation and aggression", the co- chairs' statement that there is a need for sides' decisions in connection with the settlement of the conflict is nothing but avoiding responsibility and contrary to their mandate. 

"This position of the OSCE Minsk Group only serves the interests of Armenia, ensures the continuation of the occupation of Azerbaijan by Armenia and the current inadmissible status-quo which was noted in the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group. It is high time for the co-chairs to draw conclusions from unsuccessful activity continuing more than 20 years, a loss of confidence on the international level and to the public in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan will continue contact with international institutions intending to contribute to the settlement of the conflict and, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, will take advantage of all opportunities to ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally-recognized borders," said Hajiyev.

To note, Minsk Group Co-Chairs made a statement on Novmber 12 in which they emphasized, that considering the sensitivity of the negotiations, attempts to change the format or create parallel mechanisms can disrupt the negotiation process and impede progress towards a settlement. "At the same time, we are prepared to cooperate with all international organizations, which demonstrate an interest in finding a just and sustainable settlement to the conflict", the statement says. The Minsk group co-chairs noted that they take note of the attention paid by PACE to a Nagorno- Karabakh settlement and share concerns, expressed in the resolution, regarding an increase of tensions along the border of Armenia and Azerbaijan and along the Line of Contact. The Co-Chairs will continue to render assistance to the parties, taking into consideration our mandate, approved by the OSCE. "According to the OSCE mandate, our task is to promote a peaceful resolution of the conflict and in particular to facilitate negotiations on a comprehensive settlement.  We are neither judges nor advocates for particular positions", the statement says.