Stable Resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Must Be Achieved Through Negotiations

Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ara Aivazyan delivered a speech at the 27th meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council, which we present below.

“Thank you, Madam Chairperson, dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen. Madam Chairperson, joining my colleagues, I would like to express my gratitude to the Albanian presidency for its persistent efforts and leadership in the organization throughout this year.

The year 2020 was marked by unprecedented challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic and its severe consequences. Nevertheless, the war unleashed by Azerbaijan, with the direct involvement of its allies Turkey and foreign militant terrorists and jihadists, created an even graver situation for the people of Artsakh and Armenia.

During the 44-day war, Azerbaijan and Turkey blatantly disregarded their international obligations and violated the commitments made to the OSCE, continuing their military operations in defiance of numerous appeals from the co-chairing countries of the OSCE Minsk Group to cease hostilities and the three agreements reached to stop military operations, as well as the resolute calls of the international community.

The aggression was accompanied by numerous gross violations of international laws and customs governing armed conflicts, war crimes, including the deliberate targeting of civilian populations and critical infrastructure, killings of prisoners of war and civilian hostages, inhumane or degrading treatment, beheadings, desecration of dead bodies, and many other documented crimes aimed at the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian people in their historical homeland.

In this context, we welcome the consensus reached on the draft decision of the Ministerial Council regarding the prevention and eradication of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, considering it the most significant outcome of this ministerial meeting.

I want to emphasize the efforts of the Russian Federation and the personal engagement of Vladimir Putin in establishing a ceasefire and ending the war, including the deployment of peacekeeping forces in the region. We are also grateful to France and the United States for their efforts and engagement in reaching a ceasefire.

Azerbaijan and its allies' actions have also created a new dangerous precedent in addressing conflict situations within the OSCE responsibility area. Firstly, the recruitment, transportation, and deployment of foreign militants and jihadists by Turkey from Syria and Libya to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone is a gross violation of the OSCE commitments to combat foreign terrorist phenomena. This is the first case where in the context of a conflict present within the OSCE responsibility area, two participating states are deploying armed militants and jihadists for the purpose of reinforcing their armed forces—a fact recognized not only by many OSCE participating states but also by relevant United Nations bodies.

Secondly, Azerbaijan's aggression against Artsakh has been significantly provoked and politically and militarily supported by the leadership of Turkey, showcasing Turkey's expansionist ambitions in the South Caucasus and beyond. Thirdly, Azerbaijan and its allies unleashed a war against Artsakh, falsely claiming the legality of the use of force, a clear violation of international law.

Moreover, Azerbaijan and Turkey now assert that the situation created as a result of the use of force, aggression, and war, alongside widespread violations of international law and international humanitarian law, war crimes, and ethnic cleansing, should be regarded as a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

We strongly condemn the use of force against the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination and will not accept any attempts to deprive the people of Artsakh of their rights.

Despite the reassurances voiced today, Armenians in the recently occupied territories of Artsakh by Azerbaijan have faced ethnic cleansing, while those few who remain have been killed or tortured and displaced from their historical homeland by Azerbaijani armed forces. This reality clearly indicates that Armenians of Artsakh cannot fall under Azerbaijan's jurisdiction.

A lasting and stable resolution of the conflict directed towards long-term and sustainable peace in the region includes: the status of Artsakh based on the realization of the right to self-determination, the security of the people of Artsakh, the de-occupation of territories of Artsakh by Azerbaijan, the safe and dignified return of recently displaced populations to their homes, the preservation of Armenian cultural and religious heritage in areas now under Azerbaijani control.

The immediate and unconditional exchange of prisoners of war and other hostages on the principle of “all for all,” as well as the return of remains, must be carried out without any delay.

The trilateral statement of November 9 does not lead to a definitive political and lasting resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Only a political and negotiated settlement that respects the rights of all can bring peace and reconciliation to the South Caucasus region.

At the same time, to achieve this goal, Turkey, whose genocide against Armenians is well known, must abandon its destabilizing policies and refrain from any actions that can further escalate tensions.

In this context, we call upon all participating states of the OSCE to continue exerting pressure on Turkey to withdraw its armed personnel and associated terrorist groups from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone and the South Caucasus. So far, there are no signals that foreign terrorist fighters are being withdrawn from the conflict zone. On the contrary, credible information exists regarding Azerbaijan's plans for the spread of militants and mercenaries and their resettlement in the occupied regions of Artsakh.

The lasting and stable resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be achieved through negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group, which is the only mechanism with an international mandate for resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

In this context, we positively assess the statement made earlier today by the heads of the delegations of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries, which again demonstrates the unity and determination of the co-chair countries in seeking a comprehensive and sustainable peaceful settlement of the conflict through negotiations.

We also concur that all foreign mercenaries brought into the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone by Turkey and Azerbaijan must be fully and immediately withdrawn from the region.

In conclusion, I would like to acknowledge Sweden as the incoming chair and wish all success. Thank you.”