OSCE unable to end lingering conflicts, its chief says
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has
been unable to achieve the desired result in resolving "frozen"
conflicts, said Kazakh Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev, who
chairs the OSCE.
A number of conflicts remain unresolved in the OSCE region. These disputes stem from differences among nations and represent a legacy of the former Soviet Union.
Addressing CIS and Baltic states’ journalists at a news conference, Saudabayev expressed disappointment that, unlike the United Nations, the OSCE is a consultative body that does not deal with stationing military contingents or imposing military sanctions. Moreover, decisions at the European security body are passed based on a consensus, unlike those adopted at the U.N., which "causes delays in the settlement of ‘frozen’ conflicts", Saudabayev said.
The OSCE chairman said the brief war fought by Georgia and Russia in August 2008 had inflated the threat of lingering disputes coming out of the "frozen" state.
Regarding the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh, Saudabayev said Kazakhstan was ready to carry out an active mediating mission aiming to achieve peace and security in Nagorno Garabagh. According to him, the Central Asian state, which has historic relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia, as the OSCE chair, could greatly contribute to confidence-building between the two South Caucasus foes.
"Kazakhstan is making vigorous efforts to reach a settlement to the conflict. It is not accidental that my first visits as the OSCE chairman were paid to Azerbaijan and Armenia. I believe it is time to make a decision to reach compromise."
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.*
A number of conflicts remain unresolved in the OSCE region. These disputes stem from differences among nations and represent a legacy of the former Soviet Union.
Addressing CIS and Baltic states’ journalists at a news conference, Saudabayev expressed disappointment that, unlike the United Nations, the OSCE is a consultative body that does not deal with stationing military contingents or imposing military sanctions. Moreover, decisions at the European security body are passed based on a consensus, unlike those adopted at the U.N., which "causes delays in the settlement of ‘frozen’ conflicts", Saudabayev said.
The OSCE chairman said the brief war fought by Georgia and Russia in August 2008 had inflated the threat of lingering disputes coming out of the "frozen" state.
Regarding the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh, Saudabayev said Kazakhstan was ready to carry out an active mediating mission aiming to achieve peace and security in Nagorno Garabagh. According to him, the Central Asian state, which has historic relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia, as the OSCE chair, could greatly contribute to confidence-building between the two South Caucasus foes.
"Kazakhstan is making vigorous efforts to reach a settlement to the conflict. It is not accidental that my first visits as the OSCE chairman were paid to Azerbaijan and Armenia. I believe it is time to make a decision to reach compromise."
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.*
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