Russia envoy to Azerbaijan: Crimea-Karabakh parallels inappropriateApril 28, 2014 - 16:51 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan believes any parallels between the situation in Crimea and Karabakh to be inappropriate. “Recent events in Crimea are a unique case related to the situation inside Ukraine. Considering the Kyiv unrest to be a coup d’état and refusing to recognize the legitimacy of new leadership, Crimea’s parliament passed a decision to proclaim independence. In a referendum vote, the majority of the peninsula’s population favored annexation to Russia. Thus, a mistake committed in 1954 by annexing historic Russian lands to another state was fixed,” Vladimir Dorokhin said. As he further noted, Russia “recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity in the framework of international documents.” “Karabakh is a separate issue that needs to be solved and Russia is actively involved in the process,” he noted. Commenting on the OSCE Minsk Group activity, the envoy refuted suggestions of a conflict between Russia and the West within the organization. “Probably, diplomats would feel more comfortable were the situation more stabile; the MG, however, continues with its mission. There is no threat of collapse. Opinions differ as to the effectiveness of the Group’s work; still, at present, it’s the only format for the Karabakh conflict settlement. We repeatedly stressed our adherence to the OSCE MG and take every effort to promote solution of the conflict,” Novosti-Azerbaijan quoted the envoy as saying. Photo: embrus.az The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now. The OSCE Minsk Group The OSCE Minsk Group was created in 1992 to encourage a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The Minsk Group is headed by a Co-Chairmanship consisting of France, Russia and the United States. The main objectives of the Minsk Process are as follows: Providing an appropriate framework for conflict resolution in the way of assuring the negotiation process supported by the Minsk Group; Obtaining conclusion by the Parties of an agreement on the cessation of the armed conflict in order to permit the convening of the Minsk Conference; Promoting the peace process by deploying OSCE multinational peacekeeping forces. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells Aliyev German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for greater respect for human rights in Azerbaijan. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. |