Azernews.Az

Making progress towards lasting settlements of protracted conflicts, including the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh, will be a priority for Ireland during its OSCE chairmanship in 2012, Irish Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore said Thursday.

Addressing the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna for the first time in his capacity as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Gilmore offered his full support for the mediating OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to address the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and for the Geneva Discussions dealing with the August 2008 conflict in Georgia. He also welcomed the resumption of the official 5+2 talks in the Transdniestrian settlement process.

"We in Ireland know all too well the devastating cost of conflict. "Through negotiation, compromise and the dedication and imagination of the two governments involved, and leaders on both sides of the divide, a lasting settlement was achieved in relation to Northern Ireland.

"This experience may be of benefit in facilitating the efforts which are needed to resolve outstanding conflicts in the OSCE region, using the tools of peaceful negotiation and agreed formats and respecting fully the principles of international law," Gilmore said.

The minister added that while each conflict situation is different, Ireland hopes that in sharing its experience it will assist and encourage those engaged in seeking lasting settlements to conflicts in the region.

At a news conference in Vienna, Gilmore expressed concern over the situation on the contact line between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops.

"I believe that in this context, the focus of attention should be on reinforcing the ceasefire agreement, and the parties should reach agreement to pull back snipers from the Line of Contact. Secondly, the Minsk process should move forward," Gilmore said, adding that the Minsk Group is working with the parties to encourage their compliance with the ceasefire accord.

The OSCE chair also invited Azerbaijan and Armenia to join a conference due on April 27 in Dublin for discussions on Northern Ireland’s experience in conflict resolution.

Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war in the early 1990s. About 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory has been under the occupation of Armenian armed forces since the fragile ceasefire was signed in 1994. Peace talks, brokered by the United States, Russia and France through the Minsk Group, have been largely fruitless so far, and clashes on the frontline continue.

This story is published by AzerNEWS Weekly under a project funded by the Foundation for State Assistance to the Development of the Media under the President of the Azerbaijan Republic.