Azernews.Az

The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh has been highlighted in this year’s first issue of the OSCE Magazine, a periodical published by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
The March issue of the magazine features an interview with Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office on the dispute.
In his interview, Kasprzyk said "the Upper Garabagh conflict cannot be considered frozen".
"Since last year we have seen the most intensive phase of the negotiating process to date."
Regarding the situation on the frontline, the OSCE chairman’s envoy says it "has not changed dramatically since the cease-fire was agreed".
"There are unfortunately a number of casualties each year --approximately 30 -- as a result of shooting incidents on the Line of Contact..." Kasprzyk said.
"In 2009, the number of fatalities decreased to 19, almost certainly as a result of the intensity of the negotiations. Each casualty is a tragedy and should be avoided, especially considering that a cease-fire is in place," he added.
However, Kasprzyk expressed regret that "no agreement has yet been reached with regard to the withdrawal of snipers".
The OSCE chairman’s representative says finding a solution to the long-standing conflict is "a complicated process and has its own specific challenges".
"Clearly, a great deal of political will is required for the parties to be able to achieve a lasting settlement," Kasprzyk concluded.
The Garabagh conflict emerged during the last few years of the Soviet Union. 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory, including Upper Garabagh and seven adjacent districts, has been under Armenian occupation since the two South Caucasus republics signed a precarious cease-fire in 1994 following a lengthy war. The OSCE has been brokering peace talks for nearly two decades through a team of mediators representing the United States, Russia and France. However, negotiations have brought few tangible results so far.*