“I don’t think that the Council of Europe will become an ideal forum for the solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,”, Angel Moratinos, the new chairman to the CE Committee of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, stated during the press conference held at the CE in Strasburg on November 27.
Karl Bildt, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, and Terry Davis, CE Secretary-General participated at the conference as well.
Moratinos stated that there are other forums for the conflict solution. “As Secretary-General mentioned, I have been engaged in this issue when I was the OSCE chairman. Dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia has been reformed and continues. In his turn the chairman of the CE Committee of Ministers can revive the dialogue and assist in the creation of atmosphere of confidence. This is what we want and wish to do”, he emphasized.
The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasia started in 1988 over territorial claims raised by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Until December 1991, Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh except for Shusha and Khojaly. But in 1992-93, Shusha, Khojaly and seven surrounding districts of Nagorno-Karabakh were occupied too. In 1994, the parties signed the ceasefire agreement and hold fruitless peace talks till today.
The co-chairs to the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the USA, are mediating for peaceful solution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Moratinos underlined that they will make all efforts to create the political and diplomatic environment. “I believe we are nearer to the achievement of peace than we were before. We’ll do our best to create a good political and diplomatic atmosphere. I call on both sides to keep continuing dialogue to find solution to the conflict”, he stated.
He also added that the conference is expected to be held in Baku next week and will become the first during Spain’s chairmanship at the CE Committee of Ministers. According to him, such an inter-cultural conference about the dialogue will provide good basis for joint activity.
The chairman to the CE stated that this conference is of special importance for him. Because, besides inter-cultural dialogue, it is planned to hold bilateral meetings there. Besides members of the CE countries, as it is obvious, representatives of Moslem states (ALECSO, ISESCO) will participate at the conference as well.
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