Foreign

Home page

Foreign

OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut: â€œThe OSCE stands ready to further support the Azerbaijan’s efforts to continue democratic reformsâ€ - INTERVIEW

14 July 2009 14:48 (UTC +04:00)

- What role OSCE plays in the context of international relations at the time?

- The OSCE, which is the worldâ€™s largest regional security organization with 56 participating States, continues to play a key role in helping to build security and stability in its area. In this regard the Organization has an important role to play in taking forward the dialogue on the future of European security. As the OSCE participating States have agreed, the time has come to take stock of how far we have come in building a Europe â€œwhole, free and at peace with itself.â€ We have seen tremendous progress in the two decades since the end of the Cold War, but many challenges remain unresolved.

There is a need for an open, sustained, wide-ranging and inclusive dialogue on security and the OSCE is a natural forum to anchor this dialogue, thanks to its inclusiveness, its comprehensive security concept and its long experience. The OSCE also remains the only regional organization bringing together all states in the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian areas on an equal footing.

- The Chairman of OSCE Ms. Dora Bakoyyanis planned to hold OSCE Summit in 2009. Is there any news on that issue? If it will be held, what will be the topic?

- The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, recently hosted an informal meeting of OSCE foreign ministers on the Greek island of Corfu on 27 and 28 June. This meeting brought together the 56 OSCE states as well as representatives of international organizations to launch the â€œCorfu Processâ€ for a renewed dialogue on European security.

The â€œCorfu processâ€ represents an opportunity for all states of our region to come together to assess where there are gaps in their common security, and to craft more effective responses to remaining challenges. It does not seek to replace Europeâ€™s existing network of security institutions, but rather to strengthen them in dealing with outstanding challenges, and to encourage greater co-operation.

- What OSCE is going to undertake to for resolving the frozen conflict, and Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in particular? How do you think, if any opportunities for resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict this year?
The co-chairs of Minsk group OSCE told that they were planning the Nagorno-Karabakh summit with the participation of 3 presidents OSCE Minsk group countries. Will the OSCE officials participate in it? Whatâ€™s your attitude towards that?

-The OSCE is committed to the existing structures to addressing the regionâ€™s protracted conflicts and fully supports the work of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. The meetings that have taken place between the Presidents and Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia are critical to the progress we have seen recently, and the OSCE fully supports this dialogue. The upcoming meeting between the Presidents in Moscow on July 17 will mark another step in the negotiation process. As the OSCE Chairperson said when she was in Baku at the start of July, the latest developments in the negotiation process and the constructive discussions that have taken place are encouraging. There is a positive momentum in the discussions, and it is important to build on this.

The intensified mediation efforts of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs as well as the confidence-building work of the Chairpersonâ€™s Personal Representative Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, are also very important. The statement by the presidents of the Minsk Group Co-Chair countries â€“ France, Russia and the United States â€“ at the G-8 summit are further indications of both the importance the international community places on achieving a peaceful, negotiated settlement, and of the fact that we believe there is an opportunity to make further progress. The statement announced that the Presidents of the Co-Chair countries are instructing the mediators to present an updated version of the 2007 Madrid document, which I hope will also help bring us closer to a comprehensive settlement.

- How do you estimate the development of democratic institutions in Azerbaijan and situation with media in our country?

Vibrant political competition, a strong civil society and a free press are critical to the democratic process and represent key commitments. The Parliamentâ€™s recent decision to help ensure that amendments to the law on NGOs do not restrict the activities of civil society was a positive one in this regard. I also welcome the dialogue that Azerbaijan is pursuing with the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, and I strongly believe we can further cooperate to improve the legal media environment.

The OSCE supports participating States in their efforts to fulfil their commitments, and the Organization, in particular its Office in Baku, stands ready to further support the country’s efforts to continue democratic reforms. The Office has enjoyed excellent co-operation with Azerbaijan in a wide range of activities, from community policing to trial monitoring. The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights can also support Azerbaijan in fulfilling its commitments with respect to media freedom, and to build on the progress shown in last year’s presidential election ahead of the municipal elections in December and the parliamentary elections next year.

Azerbaijan has enjoyed robust economic growth in recent years, and despite the negative effects of the financial crisis, will continue the positive trend this year. This also represents an opportunity to deepen reforms. I fully support the State Programme on Socio-Economic Development of Regions to accelerate development of the non-oil sector and diversify the economy, achieve balanced regional and sustainable socio-economic development and further improve the welfare of all people in the country.

- As we know you are planning visit to Azerbaijan. What is the main aim of your visit to Azerbaijan? When are you planning to come and what issues are to be discussed?

- I am pleased to be visiting Azerbaijan on the invitation of the Azerbaijani authorities. During my visit I will meet President Aliyev and representatives of the foreign, internal affairs, justice and economic development ministries and of parliament, as well as Ambassadors from OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation and the Head and staff of the OSCE Office in Baku. I am very much looking forward to learning more about the latest developments in the country, and to discuss how the OSCE can further enhance its cooperation with Azerbaijan.