PACE Report Justifies the Use of Force by Azerbaijani Side

• 11.10.2015, 10:51
•  Region,  Armenia,  NKR

The enemy continues to actively violate the ceasefire. On this background, OSCE Minsk Group US Co-Chair James Warlick declared that the mediators are working on organizing a meeting of the heads of Azerbaijan and Armenia. "The diplomatic settlement has no alternative," told Warlick refereeing to the resolution of Karabakh conflict.

 Thus, mediation efforts are directed to moving the settlement process to a peaceful stage and avoiding large-scale armed actions from both sides. Note that the attempts to prevent the war in recent times become more and more difficult for the intermediaries. And in this context PACE January session will discuss the draft resolution proposed by Robert Walter, which will only contribute to the escalation of the border tension.

As for the content of the document proposed by the British MP, there is even no need to go into details. This exceptionally unbalanced document reflecting only Azerbaijani interests and approaches has been circulated in the media for a week. Interestingly though, the British MP, who unilaterally introduces Karabakh issue, is also proposing to seek for some settlement ways. An economist by profession, PACE rapporteur, who demonstrated  interest towards  the Karabakh issue for months, pretends to handle the problem easily; the problem which the OSCE Minsk group fails to handle for already two decades. Mr. Walter's self-confidence, of course, is amazing. But the approach of his partners, who approved the document based on Walter's report to take it to the PACE plenary session,   is even surprising.

The question arises as to whether the deputies have not thought that such superficiality and often unnecessary ambition can be the price for human lives. In case of approval, the document will be a ''carte blanche'' in Azerbaijan's hand to force its policy of blackmail with even greater confidence. It is clear that the formula proposed by Walter even if adopted by plenary session of PACE will still remain a purely advisory document without any legal binding force.

However, such initiatives have their impact on international public opinion. And if PACE with its noble mission commitment to human rights, justifying the use of force by one of the sides, should contribute to the further aggravation of the situation in the conflict zone, the question arises as how it serves its purpose and whether it is appropriate to continue further cooperation with it.