NKR: Azerbaijan trying to reduce neutral area widthMarch 11, 2008 - 14:03 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - "For over eight years the Azerbaijani side has been attempting to bring its outposts closer to our positions, reducing the width of the neutral area. Experience shows that the ceasefire is often violated in those places where the outposts of the conflict sides are closer," said Masis Mayilyan, former Deputy Foreign Minister of the Nagrono Karabakh Republic."The roots of the escalation on the line of contact should be sought in the absence of distinct mechanisms of control of cease-fire. The activities of the office of the personal representative of the OSCE CiO are necessary but not sufficient," he said. "The recent events in Martakert caused a heated debate within the international community. It is evident that the countries and organizations involved in the peace process over Karabakh are interested in maintaining peace and stability in our region. Since regional stability is both in our interest and in the interest of the key regional actors, it would be advisable to launch consultation with the OSCE and the mediating countries to work out mechanisms of maintenance of ceasefire. During the consultation, NKR as one of the sides in the conflict could come up with an initiative to hold monitoring more frequently by the civilian observers of the OSCE, and in the second stage the international control could become permanent," he said. "During the talks it is necessary to consider the issue of setting up and dispatching a new OSCE observation mission to the region, since expanding the staff and powers of the office of the personal representative of the OSCE CiO will be beneficial. In order to raise the effectiveness of mechanisms of control it is necessary to enlarge the neutral area through restoring the status quo post bellum. In other words, the Azerbaijani troops should return to the positions which they used to occupy in May 1994. The exact coordinates of the line of contact should be presented by the relevant agencies of the Minsk Group countries, as well as the OSCE office, the representatives of which have been monitoring the line for over a decade. In this situation, initiatives by NKR can not only raise the level of physical security of our citizens but also underline that NKR is a party," Mr Mayilyan resumed, KarabakhOpen reports. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia provides info about arrested Armenian ex-MP Russian law enforcement agencies have provided information about the arrest of Tigran Urikhanyan. Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. |