Re: EU hypocrisy
OSCE "Strongly Condemns" Azerbaijan for Military Intrusion
Today the three co-chair countries that mediate negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, strongly condemned Azerbaijan's use of force in the region saying the use of force is an attempt to damage the peace process.
The statement is published on OSCE's website and reads "The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Bernard Fassier of France, Robert Bradtke of the United States of America, and Igor Popov of the Russian Federation strongly condemn the use of force and regret the senseless loss of life. Such an incident is an unacceptable violation of the 1994 Ceasefire Agreement and is contrary to the stated commitment of the sides to refrain from the use of force or the threat of the use of force."
During the night of June 18 to 19 the Armed forces of Azerbaijan violated the 1994 ceasefire and intruded through the contact line of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The incident took the lives of five innocent soldiers: one from Azerbaijan and four from Nagorno Karabakh. The Co-chairs note that the this armed intrusion took place within hours of the trilateral summit that took place in St. Petersburg between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan and was hosted by the president of the Russian Federation.
It's been a long time since OSCE has shown some teeth and coming out with such a strong condemnation of the use of military force. While Azerbaijan has accepted the responsibility for the armed incidence, OSCE's condemnation does not unfortunately name Azerbaijan by its name, but just goes as far as condemning the "use of force." This is the weakness of this statement and while it is clearly directed at Azerbaijan it is time for the mediators to really see which of the sides is cooperating and which one is trying to damage the peace process.
Yet, OSCE's statement has many strong points and is a welcome timely statement for the societies of both countries who want to live in peace.
First it it condemns the use of force. Second, it calls any use of force as a violation of the 1994 ceasefire. This is important point because Azerbaijan has many times, including this weekend announced that the war is not ended and they leave the military option open if the negotiations fail. The third, is that the use of military force "can only be seen as an attempt to damage the peace proceeds." Thus, whoever starts using the military force will be seen as the responsible party that damages the peace process and will be accountable for it.
The fourth strong point is the most important and the only way leading to final peace: its the preparation of the societies for peace. The co-chairs called on the sides to show restraint when communicating with their societies. The statement reads that it's time to "prepare their population for peace and not for war. They reiterate that there is no alternative to a peaceful negotiation solution of the conflict and that war is not an option."
The importance of this last point cannot be overestimated. No president or a leader can sell even the most honorable compromise to his own people if his society is not ready for peace and is very militant in its disposition toward the other side. While Armenia is clearly not responsible for this military intrusion it is time for Azerbaijan to reconsider its military mentality and look for peace. At the end of the day this entire problem is about what it takes for the people of the region to leave peacefully. If it only takes Nagorno Karabakh's independence so it may be. If it takes war and ethnic cleaning, the international community does not see it that way and the Co-chairs of the Minsk Group representing USA, Russia and France clearly say on behalf of OSCE that "there is no alternative to a peaceful negotiation solution of the conflict."
This is the high time for the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia to prepare their societies for peace. This conflict is not about a piece of land, but about a peaceful co-existence of people and they have the right determine their future.
Written by Armen Hareyan
HULIQ.com
Submitted by Armen Hareyan on 2010-06-21
OSCE "Strongly Condemns" Azerbaijan for Military Intrusion
Today the three co-chair countries that mediate negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, strongly condemned Azerbaijan's use of force in the region saying the use of force is an attempt to damage the peace process.
The statement is published on OSCE's website and reads "The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Bernard Fassier of France, Robert Bradtke of the United States of America, and Igor Popov of the Russian Federation strongly condemn the use of force and regret the senseless loss of life. Such an incident is an unacceptable violation of the 1994 Ceasefire Agreement and is contrary to the stated commitment of the sides to refrain from the use of force or the threat of the use of force."
During the night of June 18 to 19 the Armed forces of Azerbaijan violated the 1994 ceasefire and intruded through the contact line of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The incident took the lives of five innocent soldiers: one from Azerbaijan and four from Nagorno Karabakh. The Co-chairs note that the this armed intrusion took place within hours of the trilateral summit that took place in St. Petersburg between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan and was hosted by the president of the Russian Federation.
It's been a long time since OSCE has shown some teeth and coming out with such a strong condemnation of the use of military force. While Azerbaijan has accepted the responsibility for the armed incidence, OSCE's condemnation does not unfortunately name Azerbaijan by its name, but just goes as far as condemning the "use of force." This is the weakness of this statement and while it is clearly directed at Azerbaijan it is time for the mediators to really see which of the sides is cooperating and which one is trying to damage the peace process.
Yet, OSCE's statement has many strong points and is a welcome timely statement for the societies of both countries who want to live in peace.
First it it condemns the use of force. Second, it calls any use of force as a violation of the 1994 ceasefire. This is important point because Azerbaijan has many times, including this weekend announced that the war is not ended and they leave the military option open if the negotiations fail. The third, is that the use of military force "can only be seen as an attempt to damage the peace proceeds." Thus, whoever starts using the military force will be seen as the responsible party that damages the peace process and will be accountable for it.
The fourth strong point is the most important and the only way leading to final peace: its the preparation of the societies for peace. The co-chairs called on the sides to show restraint when communicating with their societies. The statement reads that it's time to "prepare their population for peace and not for war. They reiterate that there is no alternative to a peaceful negotiation solution of the conflict and that war is not an option."
The importance of this last point cannot be overestimated. No president or a leader can sell even the most honorable compromise to his own people if his society is not ready for peace and is very militant in its disposition toward the other side. While Armenia is clearly not responsible for this military intrusion it is time for Azerbaijan to reconsider its military mentality and look for peace. At the end of the day this entire problem is about what it takes for the people of the region to leave peacefully. If it only takes Nagorno Karabakh's independence so it may be. If it takes war and ethnic cleaning, the international community does not see it that way and the Co-chairs of the Minsk Group representing USA, Russia and France clearly say on behalf of OSCE that "there is no alternative to a peaceful negotiation solution of the conflict."
This is the high time for the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia to prepare their societies for peace. This conflict is not about a piece of land, but about a peaceful co-existence of people and they have the right determine their future.
Written by Armen Hareyan
HULIQ.com
Submitted by Armen Hareyan on 2010-06-21
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