Pashinyan: Armenia open to dissolution of OSCE Minsk Group

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has stated that Armenia is prepared to agree to the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Pashinyan emphasized that Armenia would support the disbandment of the group, but only if both Yerevan and Baku act towards the singular goal of establishing peace in the region, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The Armenian position asserts that if there is no conflict, there is little point in maintaining a framework dedicated to managing one.

To recall, on January 9, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan published his vision for resolving Armenian-Azerbaijani relations on his Facebook page. 

"1. Western Azerbaijan is Qazax, Tovuz, Aghstafa, Gadabay, Dashkasan, Kelbajar, Lachin, Kubadli, Zangelan. There is no Western Azerbaijan beyond this, and cannot be. If they really want to search for it elsewhere, then we can consider Nakhchivan as Western Azerbaijan too.

2. Western Armenia is Armavir, Talin, Maralik. There is no Western Armenia beyond this, and cannot be.

3. Eastern Armenia is Ijevan, Berd, Chambarak, Vardenis, Jermuk, Goris, Kapan, Nerkin Hand, Nrnadzor. There is no Eastern Armenia beyond this, and cannot be.

4. Azerbaijan insists for Armenia to discuss the issue of the rights of refugees, under the “Western Azerbaijan” narrative. When Azerbaijan is using the narrative of “the issue of return of Western Azerbaijan refugees” it is closing the possibility of any discussion by using this wording, because it makes it evident that it is attempting to use the issue of refugees to question the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia, a sovereign state and subject of international law, and to form territorial demands against Armenia. First of all, in order to discuss the issue, Azerbaijan must abandon the “Western Azerbaijan” and similar narratives.

5. By questioning the right to have a defence-capable military in the outline of the circumstances mentioned in the previous point, official Baku is attempting to gain an opportunity to carry out unimpeded aggression against the Republic of Armenia.

6. The proposal of the Republic of Armenia on establishing lasting stability and peace in the region is clear:

A) To mutually abandon escalatory narratives,

B) To continue the delimitation process based on the experience of the delimitation carried out in Berkaber-Voskepar section and the regulation on the joint activity of the two countries’ delimitation commissions,

C) To sign a Peace treaty, which is 90% ready,

D) Implement the “Crossroads of Peace” project, by also resolving the issue of Azerbaijan-Azerbaijan connection through the territory of the Republic of Armenia, and the issue of Armenia-Armenia connection through the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in accordance with the proposals presented by Armenia to Azerbaijan with results of the meeting in Kazan,

E) Introduce a joint mechanism for investigating ceasefire violations,

F) Fully resolve the issue of detained persons,

G) To work in full intensity to resolve the issue of determining the fate of missing persons,

H) Withdraw the claims against each other, including, but not limited to, claims in international courts,

I) To work on the complete and effective implementation of the provisions of the Peace treaty.

J) To form a mechanism for negotiating around mutual arms control, quota allocation, restrictions of use of armaments,

K) To discuss the issues pertaining to refugees from the two countries in the whole, by forming a joint professional, expert commission after the establishment of peace,

L) To dissolve the OSCE MG."

By Aghakazim Guliyev