Azernews.Az

By Rashid Shirinov

It is now high time for a focus on pragmatic and practical steps for confidence-building and resumption of substantive negotiations over the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, said Sebastian Kurz, Austria’s Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.

Kurz, in his statement released on March 31, joined the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ call for the sides to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to renew engagement in the political settlement process.

“The fighting and the violence we witnessed one year ago – the worst in the past two decades – caused destruction, suffering and human losses. It was a vivid reminder of how quickly the machinery of war can undermine efforts for peace,” Kurz said.

He called on the sides to refrain from any actions that jeopardize the ceasefire. “All sides must live up to their commitment to strictly observe their international humanitarian obligations – war crimes can never be justified,” said Kurz.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict erupted in April 2016 bringing Armenia and Azerbaijan face to face once again after years of “silence”.

The situation on the frontline aggravated on April 2 after the Armenian military units in the occupied lands began shelling Azerbaijan’s positions. To protect civilian population, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces launched counter attacks and as a result, the Azerbaijani troops retook hills around the village of Talish, as well as Seysulan settlement, and also took over Lele Tepe hill located in the direction of Fizuli region.

Azerbaijan and Armenia declared a truce brokered by Russia on April 5.

Recalling the outbreak of violence in April 2016 along the line of contact, he underlined his hope for fresh impetus in the negotiations:

“Clashes and serious violations of the ceasefire on the line of contact, resulting in casualties, were of particular concern to us throughout the past year. It is now high time for a focus on pragmatic and practical steps for confidence-building as well as a resumption of substantive negotiations,” he said.

Kurz also voiced his regret at the loss of lives since the tragic events in April 2016 and expressed his condolences to the affected families. “As I have stated on numerous occasions, there is no military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We should plan for peace now, and not allow war to return with all of its terrible consequences,” Kurz added.

He also commended the work of Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk and his team, illustrated by the active facilitation of a humanitarian operation by the International Committee of the Red Cross in February 2017 to retrieve the remains of the deceased servicemen.

“The OSCE Chairmanship stands ready to contribute to the efforts of the sides to further advance and implement the agreements reached during the summits in Vienna and St. Petersburg in 2016,” concluded Kurz.

After the meetings of the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents in Vienna and St. Petersburg, which took place after the April clashes, the negotiation process came to the dead end due to the denial of Yerevan to continue serious talks.

Armenia still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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