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OSCE Chairperson-in-Office: â€œWe cannot impose a solution of Nagorno Karabakh conflictâ€ â€“ INTERVIEW

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office: â€œWe cannot impose a solution of Nagorno Karabakh conflictâ€ â€“ <font color=red>INTERVIEW </font>

13 June 2012 05:45 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Victoria Dementieva â€“ APA. APAâ€™s interview with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Irelandâ€™s Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade Eamon Gilmore

- What issues do you plan to discuss during the visit to the region?

- Following recent reports of a serious escalation in violent incidents, it is clear that the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process will be high on my agenda during this visit. Progress on protracted conflicts was always a high priority for my Chairmanship, now it is even more urgent. The cycle of violence must stop. The conflict will not be resolved by the use of force. In my meetings I am calling on all parties, all actors, to refrain from the use or threat of force and to abstain from retaliatory measures. The time has come to build confidence and trust and the OSCE can help. With the political leadership I will also discuss co-operation with the OSCE, in particular our Offices in Baku and Yerevan.

- How do you estimate the first 6 months of the Irish Presidency of the OSCE? Was it successful in terms of implementation of its priorities?

- During the first six months of our Chairmanship we have raised a number of issues we see as key to the top of the Organizationâ€™s agenda, for example internet freedom.

Today the internet is a vital communication tool, allowing billions of people to exercise their freedom of expression. Next week (on 18 June) I am hosting an important conference where politicians, diplomats and experts from civil society and the public and private sectors will discuss how the internet can remain a free and open resource for communication and information in the OSCE region.

In the economic sphere we are continuing to promote security and stability through good governance, with a particular focus on measures to counter corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing. Together with the other OSCE participating States we are exchanging good practices. In April, Ireland presented the work of our Criminal Assets Bureau as a possible model for other countries.

We are half-way into our OSCE Chairmanship and are very focused on not just the next six months but on the future work of the organization. We are working closely with the incoming Ukrainian Chairmanship as well as the future Swiss and Serbian Chairmanships on priorities stretching into 2015.

With regard to the most difficult issue of making progress on protracted conflicts I am pleased that we have seen some progress in the Transdniestrian settlement process. Official negotiations resumed at the end of last year and two months ago the sides agreed on the principles and procedures for the conduct of the negotiations. This is an important step.

- This year Azerbaijan has celebrated the 20th anniversary of accession to the OSCE. How do you evaluate the progress of Azerbaijan in this field?

- How do you think Azerbaijan comply with its obligations to the organization?

This year many of our participating States are celebrating 20 years of being part of what we call the OSCE community. Different countries have made more or less progress in different areas. It is important for Azerbaijan to match its economic progress over that last twenty years with further democratic development, adhering to the common principles that the OSCE participating States reaffirmed two years ago at the Astana Summit. The OSCE institutions and our office in Baku will continue to work together with the Azerbaijani authorities to support the implementation of the countryâ€™s reform programme.

- What could you say about the work of Special Representative for South Caucasus appointed in the framework of the Irish Presidency of the OSCE?

- Ambassador Murphy is doing a very difficult job that requires knowledge, patience and negotiating and diplomatic skills. He is committed to making progress in this difficult environment and he has my full support in this endeavor.

- This year the OSCE Minsk Group marks 20 years since it was established in 1992, but the Minsk Group did not manage to achieve a breakthrough in negotiations on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Does the OSCE consider to review the OSCE Minsk Group format or any measures to improve its efficiency?

- The Minsk Group is the format that has been agreed by the sides and was not imposed from the outside. There are no discussions to review or change the format. I fully support the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (France, Russia, US) to work with the sides on strengthening the ceasefire and in finding a negotiated solution. We can provide a forum for dialogue and support the sides working towards a lasting peace. We cannot impose a solution. To make progress on resolving this conflict there needs to be genuine will and commitment on the part of those directly involved.