Preparing for Peace? Stepanakert Responded to OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Statement

• 01.17.2019, 17:32
•  Region,  World,  Armenia,  NKR

Statement by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs on the results of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers meeting held in Paris on January 16, although maintains the trends of previous statements, however, at the same time contains new elements, Press Secretary of the President of the Republic of Artsakh Davit Babayan said in an interview with News.am, commenting the results of Wednesday’s meeting.

Babayan, at the same time, noted that in reality, the new elements are the well-forgotten old ones which have repeatedly appeared at different stages of the Karabakh conflict resolution process.

The statement, as before, stresses the need for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

"Very interesting wording about concrete steps and preparation for peace - not a decision or settlement. This implies long-term action and equivalence. The societies should realize that there is no alternative to peace, there is no return to the past, there should not be losers and winners; there should be a common denominator.  On the other hand, concrete steps should involve a dialogue for all parties, that is, a return to the full format of negotiations’’, Babayan highlighted, also emphasizing that first of all the parties to the conflict are Azerbaijan and Artsakh, then Armenia, which could not remain indifferent to the fate of Artsakh.

As for the economic projects noted in the statement, the Artsakh authorities have repeatedly spoken about such a possibility.

"Stepanakert has many times offered cooperation in the exchange of some part of water resources, but Baku refused," David Babayan reminded.

He also stressed that one should not forget the reality that Azerbaijan says one thing, but does something else.