Astana aims to advance solution of lingering conflicts
Kazakhstan is closely following talks on resolving
the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh and
intends to give an impetus to the peace process during its
chairmanship in the OSCE, which is mediating the conflict
settlement, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Kazakh Foreign Minister
Kanat Saudabayev reportedly said Tuesday.
Saudabayev was quoted by the Armenian media as saying in Yerevan that nonetheless, reaching a solution to the long-standing dispute was at the hands of the conflicting sides.
"The mediators can only assist in speeding the process. We are cautiously optimistic about the conflict settlement," Saudabayev told a press conference.
He noted that Kazakhstan commands additional resources for influencing the peace process, such as information about the history of the conflict, relative proximity in history and people’s mindset, and esteem and confidence in its leadership’s relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia. He said Astana had outlined settling protracted conflicts as a priority during its OSCE chairmanship and he has paid his first visit to the South Caucasus for this reason.
"Kazakhstan will support any proposal on easing tension in the Garabagh conflict zone, including the proposal to remove snipers from the contact line [of the two countries’ troops] that the OSCE Minsk Group will forward to the sides," Saudabayev said.
The OSCE chair said he had held very open discussions on Garabagh settlement with Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian. While in Yerevan, he also met with Bako Saakian, the leader of the self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh republic. The Garabagh problem was also a focus of discussions with the opposition Armenian National Congress leader, former president Levon Ter-Petrosian.*
Saudabayev was quoted by the Armenian media as saying in Yerevan that nonetheless, reaching a solution to the long-standing dispute was at the hands of the conflicting sides.
"The mediators can only assist in speeding the process. We are cautiously optimistic about the conflict settlement," Saudabayev told a press conference.
He noted that Kazakhstan commands additional resources for influencing the peace process, such as information about the history of the conflict, relative proximity in history and people’s mindset, and esteem and confidence in its leadership’s relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia. He said Astana had outlined settling protracted conflicts as a priority during its OSCE chairmanship and he has paid his first visit to the South Caucasus for this reason.
"Kazakhstan will support any proposal on easing tension in the Garabagh conflict zone, including the proposal to remove snipers from the contact line [of the two countries’ troops] that the OSCE Minsk Group will forward to the sides," Saudabayev said.
The OSCE chair said he had held very open discussions on Garabagh settlement with Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian. While in Yerevan, he also met with Bako Saakian, the leader of the self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh republic. The Garabagh problem was also a focus of discussions with the opposition Armenian National Congress leader, former president Levon Ter-Petrosian.*
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