MOSCOW/VIENNA/WASHINGTON (A.W.)—On July 5, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group Co-Chairs—Ambassador Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Ambassador Stephane Visconti of France, and Ambassador Richard Hoagland of the United States—released a statement calling on both the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides to cease military action along the Artsakh-Azerbaijan Line of Contact (LoC).
“Violence only begets further violence and accomplishes nothing,” read part of the statement. “The only responsible and humane way to resolve this long-standing conflict is for the sides to return to the negotiation table in good faith.”
The Co-Chairs also extended their condolences to the families of the victims.
Following the statement, Armenian Foreign Minister held phone conversations with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk.
According to Armenian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tigran Babayan, Nalbandian discussed the Azerbaijani provocations that took place on July 4 at the Artsakh-Azerbaijani Line of Contact (LoC), as well as its consequences. “During phone conversations with OSCE [Minsk Group] co-chairs, FM Nalbandian presented the situation after Azerbaijan provocation,” Babayan tweeted.
In the evening of July 4, the Artsakh Ministry of Defense announced that Artsakh Defense Army forces had responded to Azerbaijan’s shelling of Armenian positions earlier in the evening. According to a statement issued by the Artsakh Ministry of Defense, the Azerbaijani side suffered human losses and a military post in the Azerbaijani village of Alghanlu was damaged.
Ignore the OSCE. If the OSCE was really interested in stoppage of violence then they need to call out the Azeri side to TRULY end the border skirmishes. Instead you get the silly parity of “both sides” blah blah.etc…Protecting the Armenian sides form Azeri provocation is in order. Keep shooting back.
Joe makes a valid point, and I completely agree. Simply making appeals for both sides to avoid provocative actions isn’t good enough, and actually can be quite harmful, because Baku, Azerbaijan, has always been the primary culprit in this scenario (during the last few decades). For a long time, it has become clear that Azerbaijan has no interest in fostering a ceasefire; instead, it has endlessly used its military to insight violence against Armenia, and its Karabakh Stronghold. At some point, a doctor can diagnose that the medicine isn’t working, then prescribe a medication that actually heals the patient; in the same fashion, the OSCE should realize that it’s time signal warnings specifically against Baku, Azerbaijan, the real culprit. Eventually, punitive actions (against Azerbaijan) would be the next step in an escalated formula to achieve peace; however, I’m quite sure that the OSCE won’t signal warning against Azerbaijan (the true culprit), and will continue upon its failed pathway of rhetoric.
The OSCE really has no bite to it’s bark, because it has lost credibility.
Perhaps they’ll tell ISIS and the West to both end terrorist attacks.