Eduard Sharmazanov: OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs have no disagreements over Karabakh

OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs have no disagreements over the Karabakh issue, Eduard Sharmazanov, Vice Speaker of the Armenian Parliament told journalists on June 15 when commenting on the OSCE representative's statement that the Organization is not involved in the organization of the upcoming meeting of the Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani presidents.

"It is not for the first time when the meeting is held at the behest of one of the co-chair-countries, the more so as, the given meeting will be held on sidelines of another event," Sharmazanov said. He recalled that U.S. and France previously organized such meetings too. He said the OSCE MG co-chairs have repeatedly voiced their single stance on the Karabakh settlement based on the three fundamental principles of the International Law. 

Sharmazanov said that the Vienna arrangements were not implemented, as Azerbaijan is making non- constructive statements at the level of the president. "I do not think that such emotional and unrealistic statements contribute to the negotiations. If the sides want breakthroughs, they should respect the three principles," he said. In response to the remarks of journalists that it is inexpedient to leave for negotiations havibg no result, Sharmazanov said that even the most inefficient talks are better that war. 

"We should either 'stage a work-out' and boycott the talks or gradually work towards Artsakh's return to the negotiating table as a full party," Sharmazanov said.  In his words, even the mediators say that Artsakh should become a full party to the conflict at the most important and final stage of the agreement. "Without Artsakh's involvement, it is impossible to settle the conflict. If the mediators speak of the ceasefire agreement having no time limitation, they should remember that the agreement of 1994 was signed by Nagorno Karabakh," he said for conclusion.

Earlier, Natacha Rajakovic, the Spokesperson and Acting Deputy Head of Communication and Media Relations Section at OSCE said OSCE is not involved in the ongoing preparations for the trilateral meeting of the presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia, Serzh Sargsyan, Ilham Aliyev, and Vladimir Putin over Nagorno Karabakh, in St. Petersburg.  Rajakovic refrained from any comments concerning the meeting and its  date.  She said the meeting will be held at the behest of Russia and recommended addressing all the questions to the Russian authorities. 

Earlier, Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov said Vladimir Putin will have vis-a-vis meetings with his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts before the trilateral summit in Saint Petersburg on June 20.