Azernews.Az

The states co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group brokering a settlement to the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict adopted a joint statement at the end of a closed-door meeting with the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers in Helsinki last Wednesday.
The statement was passed by Russian and French foreign ministers Sergei Lavrov and Bernard Kouchner, as well as US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried.
Elaborating on the details of the document, Lavrov told reporters that the signatories had called on the conflicting sides and the intermediaries to strive toward finalizing work on basic principles of conflict settlement in the coming months and, further, to develop a draft of the peace accord on that basis.
Among other issues, the document calls for snipers to be recalled from the contact line of the Azerbaijani and Armenian armed forces. "We call for taking action increasing mutual confidence and launching these activities by pulling back the snipers from the contact line in order to protect the lives of servicemen and civilians."
The statement also urged the sides to capitalize on incentives that emerged at the recent Russia-brokered meeting of the two countries` presidents.
"The declaration signed in Moscow paved the way for a promising new stage in terms of reaching peace in the region. In the document, the presidents confirmed that they are bound by a negotiated resolution of the conflict based on the Madrid principles," the co-chairing countries said, emphasizing that there was no military solution to the long-standing dispute.
In an effort to intensify the peace process, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had offered to hold a meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders with Russia`s participation following talks with Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian in Yerevan on October 21. The trilateral talks took place on November 2 and concluded with the signing of a declaration. The paper urged further OSCE-mediated dialog between the conflicting sides and joint efforts in bolstering stability in the South Caucasus through a political settlement of the conflict based on the principles of international law.
The Madrid principles are a set of basic guidelines for the peaceful Garabagh settlement submitted in writing to Baku and Yerevan late in November by the Minsk Group co-chairs.
US MG co-chair Matthew Bryza has termed the foreign ministers` meeting with the mediators as another step taken toward a solution to the Garabagh problem.
"I can`t say whether or not the meeting was any success, but I sense that there is progress," he told the press in the Finnish capital.
"This was another step taken after the successful meeting in Moscow and the co-chairs` visit to the region. Despite outstanding differences of opinion between the sides, talks will be continued," the diplomat said.
According to Bryza, holding the next meeting on the level of the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders is possible, but this has yet to be determined. "I believe that the presidents, too, sense that confidence has started to emerge between them."
Bryza reiterated that the co-chairs do not recognize the independence of Upper Garabagh. On the other hand, they hope that Garabagh Armenians will join the negotiating process at some stage of the peace process.
"They are involved in the process anyway. For example, we frequently visit Garabagh and hold meetings there. But I can`t say formally when this will happen," Bryza said.
The self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh republic is seeking participation in peace talks as a party to the talks, a claim repeatedly dismissed by Baku as a blatant contradiction of international law. Azerbaijani officials have made it clear that preserving the country`s territorial integrity is critical in reaching a solution to the Garabagh problem.
Bryza added that a future peace accord should focus on the principle of territorial integrity. However, the document is also to reflect the principle of self-determination and the demilitarization issue.
The two South Caucasus republics fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven adjacent Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. Peace talks have been fruitless so far.

Analyst downplays
Helsinki statement
An Azerbaijani expert on conflicts has maintained that the Helsinki statement of the mediating countries` top diplomats should not be taken seriously.
"This is merely a document that the Minsk Group co-chairs wrote and had the countries` foreign ministers sign," Elkhan Mehdiyev said.
He believes the goal of the move was to force the parties to the conflict to continue holding talks based on the Madrid principles.
"This targets Azerbaijan more, as Armenia welcomes the Madrid principles anyway," Mehdiyev said.
According to Mehdiyev, although the gist of the principles put forth in the Spanish capital have not been formally announced, they are, in fact, known to everyone. The document includes a provision that envisions the determination of Upper Garabagh`s status by holding a vote.
"Armenia deems this as a referendum aiming to achieve Upper Garabagh`s separation from Azerbaijan. The goal of the MG co-chairs is to satisfy Armenia, therefore, the most pressure in the course of negotiations is being directed at Azerbaijan."
Mehdiyev said he was not anticipating tangible results from the peace process. He believes that the Helsinki statement "is more of propaganda nature" and mainly serves Russia.
"Drastic changes should not be expected in the resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. There is nothing new and promising in the peace process," he concluded.