OSCE Minsk Group rules out change in Karabakh talks format: official

PanARMENIAN.Net - The OSCE Minsk Group doesn't see any alternatives to a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, a spokesman for Karabakh President said, Tert.am reports.

According to David Babayan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement on Moscow's support of an exclusively peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict proves two facts.

“Firstly, Russia, as well as the other OSCE MG co-chairing counties do not see an alternative to a peaceful settlement. That is, they consider the use of force or the threat of force to be unacceptable. Secondly, they oppose any changes in the Minsk Group format,” Babayan said.

In response to a remark on increasing suggestions of alternatives, Babayan called such statements mere speculations.

“Baku does not have enough political resources to change the Minsk Group format. All Azerbaijan can do is kill the Minsk Group format not to participate in the talks, but such a move is fraught with unpredictable consequences. They are thus trying to win political dividends,” he said.

During a visit to Yerevan, Lavrov addressed the controversial report by Robert Walter, a member of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Political Affairs, admitting that any radical move disrupts the OSCE mediation efforts for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

With a vote of 24 to 16, the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), has approved an anti-Armenian report titled “Escalation of Violence in Nagorno Karabakh and Other Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan” by Robert Walter (United Kingdom, EC), a rapporteur of the PACE Political Affairs Committee. The report contained inappropriate wording.

“PACE and other international organizations should consult with the OSCE [Minsk Group] Co-chairs before issuing reports or resolutions on Nagorno Karabakh,” U.S. Co-chair James Warlick said in a tweet.

Commenting on the Russian Minister’s statement, Babayan said he fully agrees with the remark. “The speech was addressed to PACE, its attempt to intervene in the process, directly or indirectly,” Babayan noted.