Minsk Group discusses only proposals accepted by conflict sides

/By AzerNews/

By Sara Rajabova

The only way in the peace talks leading out of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is through the process established by the OSCE and known as Minsk Group, said high-ranking U.S. diplomat.

“We plan to continue working towards peace as long as all agree that our role as mediators remains useful,” said James Warlick, U.S co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Warlick’s comments came after proposals raised on the expansion of the list of the Minsk Group co-chairs by inclusion of Turkey and Germany.

He told Trend on February 4 that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs are strongly committed to helping the sides to reach a lasting settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since a lengthy war in the early 1990s that displaced over one million Azerbaijanis, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions.

Some politicians have accused the Minsk Group of following unsuccessful policy regarding the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The replacement and increase of the co-chairing countries’ number are the most commonly voiced ideas.

Touching upon the Azerbaijani hostages’ issue, Warlick said the U.S. urges the relevant authorities to return the two prisoners to the Azerbaijani government.

“This would be an important humanitarian gesture that can help reduce tensions and build trust between the sides,” Warlick said commenting on the U.S. stance on a “trial” held for the Azerbaijanis taken hostages by Armenians in Azerbaijan’s occupied Kalbajar region.

“In the past and in the spirit of the Astrakhan Declaration, the sides found a way to return the prisoners and we hope such steps could be taken in this direction,” Warlick added.

Armenian special forces killed Azerbaijani citizen Hasan Hasanov and took hostage ShahbazGuliyev and Dilgam Asgarov in the Shaplar village of the occupied Kalbajar region on July 11, while they were visiting the graves of their relatives. Following the so-called “judicial process" Dilgam Asgarov was sentenced to life imprisonment, and ShahbazGuliyev to 22 years in prison.

Despite repeated calls by the international organizations and foreign countries on Armenia to return the captives back to their country, nothing has been made in this regard so far.