Azernews.Az

BAKU – OSCE chairman Audronius Azubalis has suggested that Armenia withdraw snipers from the zone of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno Karabakh "as a gesture of goodwill".

The statement came following a meeting of Azubalis, Lithuania’s foreign minister, with his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian in Yerevan on Friday, Russian media reported.

"Here, in Armenia, I suggested to my counterpart that perhaps, Armenia would withdraw its snipers first. This was an impromptu suggestion, but I offered to do this nonetheless," Azubalis told a joint news conference. "Though this [suggestion] was rather in the realm of emotions, I think that doing so would be the best example of Armenia’s showing goodwill."

Azubalis said that during his talks with Azerbaijani leaders, he also pointed to the importance of removing snipers from the contact line of the two countries’ troops.

Azubalis said further that the authorities are to work towards progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process.

"I welcome yesterday's exchange of prisoners between Azerbaijan and Armenia, following on the agreement between the presidents. Unfortunately this was reportedly followed by yet another incident on the line of contact.

"As I have emphasized in my meetings in Yerevan and in Baku, these incidents reconfirm my conviction that the parties must withdraw snipers from the line of contact," Azubalis said.

He added that the ceasefire regime is to be strengthened and further confidence-building measures implemented.

"Neither side can win from the current situation, neither militarily nor politically. I urge the parties to honor their pledge to refrain from threat or use of force. I further expect that the parties will investigate incidents on the line of contact, as agreed in Sochi on 5 March [during the meeting of the Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders].

Azubalis said all parties agree that there is no acceptable alternative to a peaceful resolution of the conflict. "The settlement process led by the Minsk Group co-chairs has kept the dialogue going, but now is the time for leaders to achieve a genuine breakthrough in negotiations."

Azubalis was to meet President Serzh Sargsyan, Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan, representatives of political parties and Levon Ter-Petrosyan of the opposition Armenian National Congress later on Friday.

He also offered OSCE support for advancing domestic reforms, in particular to ensure freedom of media, assembly and association.

"Armenia and the South Caucasus are important for the security and stability of the whole OSCE region," he said. "I welcome Armenia's stated goal of embarking on thorough regulatory, judicial and democratic reforms. I also welcome the high level of co-operation with our office in Yerevan, which is offering close support for the reform process. This includes reforms ahead of the parliamentary elections next year to help ensure broad political participation and respect for freedom of media, association and assembly."

"The OSCE, its office in Yerevan and its institutions, including the Representative on Freedom of the Media and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, stand ready to further support Armenia in its efforts," he added.

In his meetings in Yerevan, Azubalis was to present the priorities of Lithuania's 2011 OSCE chairmanship, including advancing the settlement of the region's protracted conflicts, and promoting media freedom, energy security and regional co-operation, in particular on border management and fighting transnational threats.

Azubalis was also to discuss the follow-up process to the Astana Commemorative Declaration, which was adopted at the OSCE summit in Astana in December. In the declaration all OSCE states renewed their commitments in all three dimensions of security – the politico-military, the economic and environmental, and the human dimensions.

The visit to Armenia concludes the OSCE chairman’s trip to the South Caucasus following visits to Azerbaijan and Georgia earlier this week.