Despite the Positive Trend in the Co-Chairs' Statement Concrete Steps Are Needed

• 05.19.2017, 18:02
• Greta Avetisyan
•  "Insight" Analytical Center ,  NKR,  Analytics

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs have come up with a statement on the escalation of the situation on NKR-Azerbaijan border. The statement is quite important taking into consideration several accents in it.

First of all, the statement clearly mentions that on May 15 the Azerbaijani side fired a missile striking military equipment, while the actions of the NKR side were responsive ones as a restraining means. In contrast to the statements previously made, this time the Co-Chairs in fact fix exactly as a result of the actions of which side the situation was intensified.

It should be mentioned that the Armenian sides have many times mentioned the importance of addressed calls, as their absence creates an atmosphere of impunity for the Azerbaijani authorities increasing the number of the adventurous actions and causing casualties. In this regard the recent statement of the Co-Chairs contains positive trends, though addressed criticism was still absent.  

Second, by fixing the side that violated the ceasefire regime, the Co-Chairs indirectly showed that despite the fact that Azerbaijan refuses the implementation of the agreements reached during the Vienna and St. Petersburg meetings, it is not difficult to "guess", which side violates the ceasefire. In parallel to this, it is also understandable, that the issues on installing investigative mechanisms and the expansion of Kasprchik’s mission are still on the agenda of the mediators, the implementation of which, of course, will bring its positive impact in the creation of the atmosphere of trust among the sides.

An important step for confidence building, hence for the resumption of political negotiations would also be signing an agreement among Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan on non-use of force and threat of force with clear guarantees.

Thus it should be stressed that this statement with positive trends, which caused the anger of the Azerbaijani side, shows, that the Co-Chairs also gradually come to the perception that impunity hinders to record any progress in the conflict settlement process and it is necessary to adopt another work-style. In this regard, of course, only mentioning the side violating the ceasefire regime does not solve a certain problem. It is necessary to carry out concrete and targeted actions.