Poland ready to support all efforts for peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict
By Rashid Shirinov
Poland is ready to support all efforts for a peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Krzysztof Czaputowicz told Trend on June 28.
He noted that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is of particular concern, since there are incidents taking place along the line of contact. The FM added that there is no alternative to the peaceful settlement of the conflict, which must be resolved in accordance with international law.
“It is necessary to ensure lasting peace based on trust,” Czaputowicz said, adding that Poland highly appreciates the mediation efforts by the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, although they have not made much progress in bringing the parties closer together.
“We were pleased to support the arrangement of the meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers in Krakow on January 18, 2018. The purpose of the meeting was to promote mutual trust, which is an important factor for progress in the peace process,” the Polish FM noted.
He added that Poland will continue to call on organizations, institutions and partners to make practical and political contribution to the settlement process.
Czaputowicz also noted that Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, and his team made a significant contribution to the OSCE efforts for conflict prevention in the region.
“They monitor the line of contact and, as the only international representatives on the ground, remain a reliable source of information. We are pleased that this process is headed by Polish diplomat,” he said.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.
While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign state with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years.
Until now, Armenia ignores four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping tension high in the region.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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