British NGO calls for divulging Garabagh talks
A British non-governmental organization is in talks
with Azerbaijan and Armenia about divulging talks on settling the
long-standing conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh. This
according to Dennis Sammut, Executive Director of the London
Information Network on Conflicts and State-building (LINKS).
LINKS is engaged in promoting peace and democratic state-building in countries in transition. The group has been operating in Azerbaijan for 10 years.
Sammut told Radio Liberty that discussions on divulging peace talks were underway with Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders. "Our main proposal is to make the Garabagh talks as transparent as possible."
He maintained that providing comprehensive information about ongoing talks to the public through radio and television broadcasts was illogical. At the same time, the two governments and the OSCE Minsk Group brokering the peace process should not keep the talks secret. "The public should be informed about what is being discussed."
Sammut said it would also be appropriate to hold discussions on the course of peace talks in the Azerbaijani parliament.
"However, if the debate serves nationalist agendas, everyone tries to show how patriotic they are and if all aspects of the problem are not considered, it would have an opposite effect. Such a debate should be low-key and tranquil, aim at the long-term perspective, and it should create public confidence in the future."
Sammut also said mutual visits by Azerbaijani and Armenian intellectuals could be resumed soon.
He noted that such visits should be carefully planned ahead of time. "We are not talking here about putting a group of people on a bus and driving them to Baku or Yerevan. These visits are important, and we are holding talks with the governments and civil societies in both countries on when suitable conditions will be provided for them."
Mutual visits by Azerbaijani and Armenian intellectuals took place some time ago. However, the initiative raised eyebrows among the Azerbaijani public.
Sammut also said the Garabagh mediators will soon have coordinators and their appointment has been reflected in proposals recently forwarded to the Minsk Group and the leaderships of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The mediators have agreed to have their own coordinators who will regularly work with NGOs.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict for nearly two decades. Peace talks began after a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994 but has seen few tangible results. Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law.
LINKS is engaged in promoting peace and democratic state-building in countries in transition. The group has been operating in Azerbaijan for 10 years.
Sammut told Radio Liberty that discussions on divulging peace talks were underway with Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders. "Our main proposal is to make the Garabagh talks as transparent as possible."
He maintained that providing comprehensive information about ongoing talks to the public through radio and television broadcasts was illogical. At the same time, the two governments and the OSCE Minsk Group brokering the peace process should not keep the talks secret. "The public should be informed about what is being discussed."
Sammut said it would also be appropriate to hold discussions on the course of peace talks in the Azerbaijani parliament.
"However, if the debate serves nationalist agendas, everyone tries to show how patriotic they are and if all aspects of the problem are not considered, it would have an opposite effect. Such a debate should be low-key and tranquil, aim at the long-term perspective, and it should create public confidence in the future."
Sammut also said mutual visits by Azerbaijani and Armenian intellectuals could be resumed soon.
He noted that such visits should be carefully planned ahead of time. "We are not talking here about putting a group of people on a bus and driving them to Baku or Yerevan. These visits are important, and we are holding talks with the governments and civil societies in both countries on when suitable conditions will be provided for them."
Mutual visits by Azerbaijani and Armenian intellectuals took place some time ago. However, the initiative raised eyebrows among the Azerbaijani public.
Sammut also said the Garabagh mediators will soon have coordinators and their appointment has been reflected in proposals recently forwarded to the Minsk Group and the leaderships of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The mediators have agreed to have their own coordinators who will regularly work with NGOs.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict for nearly two decades. Peace talks began after a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994 but has seen few tangible results. Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law.
Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention.
Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.
By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.
Subscribe
You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper
Thank you!