Karabakh discussed in Vilnius

Lithuania, which has headed the OSCE during 2011, is hosting the 18th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the organization’s members. About 40 foreign ministers and other top officials from 56 member-states of the OSCE and 12 partner-countries of the organizations and international and regional institutes arrived in Vilnius. Azerbaijan is represented by the foreign minister Elmar Mamedyarov.

The Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) is held annually. It is the central directive and managing body of the OSCE. Almost all representatives of the OSCE members noted the need for progress in the process of settlement of regional conflicts in the OSCE space, emphasizing the Nagorno-Karabakh territorial conflict.

The three representatives of the countries of the OSCE Minsk Group urged both sides of the conflict to reach agreement. The minister for foreign affairs of Russia proposed using the best practices to have appeared during contacts between the sides of the conflict and the president of the RF. France and the US actively support the process of settlement of the problem. All the mediators stated that no real progress in negotiations on Nagorno-Karabakh was achieved recently.

The foreign minister of Turkey, Ahmed Dovudoglu, stated that lingering conflicts in the OSCE space discredit the organization’s security. “Steps should be made immediately. Turkey stands for strengthening the OSCE's role in settlement of conflicts,” he said. Dovutoglu mentioned that unfortunately the work of the co-chairs of the Minsk Group didn’t bring any real results.

Despite close attention to the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh by the international community, it is hardly likely that in the near future the situation will change. Yerevan is not interested in taking real steps on a peaceful settlement of the conflict, as the international view of the conflict is not favorable for Armenia. However, Baku is ready to continue negotiations.

The foreign minister of Armenia, Edvard Nalbandyan, criticized Azerbaijan, devoting his whole speech to “the unfair treatment of Yerevan.” Such a  position is not a surprise. Yerevan is interested in maintaining the status quo and postponing any practical decisions. Baku thinks there is no hope for progress for a settlement, considering that the Yerevan authorities aren’t compromising in the sphere of freeing occupied Azerbaijani lands.

Elmira Tariverdiyeva, Baku. Exclusively to VK