Statement On Ceasefire Violations delivered by Ambassador Arman Kirakossian at the 983rd Meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council

06 February, 2014

Statement On Ceasefire Violations delivered by Ambassador Arman Kirakossian at the 983rd Meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council

February 06, 2014

Mr. Chairman,

We would like to invite the attention of the Permanent Council to the recent escalation of the situation on the Line of Contact between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan as a result of attempted infiltrations and subversive actions of the Azerbaijani armed forces into the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Since January 20 such provocations of Azerbaijani Armed Forces led to two casualties in the Defense Army of Nagorno-Karabakh. There were reports of casualties from the Azerbaijani Armed Forces as well.

We are deeply concerned in regard of these incidents, and feel sorrow for the lost lives of the young soldiers.

We would like to recall the recent press-release of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs, who “expressed their deep concern over continued violence in the region, and stressed that recent incidents undermine negotiations and diminish the prospects for peace.” The Armenian side fully shares the above assessment.

We also share the importance of complying with 1994 ceasefire and 1995 ceasefire strengthening agreements concluded on trilateral basis, as well as implementing the proposals of the withdrawal of snipers and creating investigative mechanism into ceasefire violations.

The clear and unequivocal commitment to the ceasefire and confidence building by the parties concerned will definitely serve as a crucial factor for creating conducive environment for the peace process as much as every new death of a soldier or a civilian on the Line of Contact between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan and on the borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan will create new difficulties towards that end.

Mr. Chairman,

In response to the distinguished Ambassador of Azerbaijan I would like to add, that regrettably, the military provocations of Azerbaijan are combined by aggressive political provocations, which, with all imagination, is hard to perceive as contributing to the peace process.

I would like to quote the statement of the President of Azerbaijan, made on 20th of January, four days before the meeting between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Paris, and available on official website: “… Our historic lands are not limited by Nagorno Karabakh and adjacent territories. Today’s Armenia is in reality the historic land of Azerbaijan.”.

The officials of the ruling party of Azerbaijan are echoing their president. One of the leaders of “Yeni Azerbaijan“ Party Siyavush Novruzov has stated “The Azerbaijani Army is able to put Armenia to its place and reach Yerevan in a few days”.

We recall that this kind of statements from highest authorities of Azerbaijan had been aired before Azerbaijan unleashed an aggressive war against Nagorno-Karabakh in the beginning of 90s. The irresponsible marriage of war mongering and wishful thinking cannot contribute towards peace and security in our region

In response to the statement of Ambassador of France, we hope that the Azerbaijani side will keep its promise for ceasefire during the period of Olympic Games in Sochi.

Thank you.

MFA RA
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