By Azernews

By Rashid Shirinov

When OSCE Minsk Group joined the peace diplomacy to find a durable and lasting solution to the long-lasting Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, that emerged in the South Caucasus for over two decades ago, there was a bright flash of hope in the eyes of millions. 

The bloody conflict that broke out after Armenia's illegal territorial claims towards the neighboring Azerbaijan in the late 1980s remains the hot point on the map, grasping international attention from time to time with provocations mostly leading to tragic ends. 

The conflict inflicted tremendous damage to Azerbaijan, whose 20 percent of internationally recognized territory is under Armenian occupation. As a result of the war, triggered by Armenia, more than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced from their homes. Today, Armenia still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions.

Despite numerous efforts to untangle the glomus the Karabakh conflict remains unsettled and while Baku does its utmost to find an early and effective solution to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, the Armenian side makes every effort to preserve the long-standing problem unresolved.

Armenia’s unwillingness to come to negotiations with Azerbaijan is particularly evidenced from never-ending cases of breaching the ceasefire by the Armenian armed forces. Over the last few days, the Armenian Armed Forces have again intensified their provocations against Azerbaijan on the frontline. The aggressors use large-caliber machine guns, grenade launchers, 60 and 82 millimeter mortars during the attacks on Azerbaijani positions and frontline villages.

The daily attacks by the Armenian side target provoking Azerbaijan and hinder the peace talks rather than start substantive negotiations over the problem. 

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict could have been resolved long ago if the Minsk Group, which acts as the only mediator to find a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, would have put the screws on Armenia, which shies away from direct negotiations.

The recent visit of the Minsk Group co-chairs to the region also didn’t bring any tangible progress in the resolution of the conflict. The co-chairs were in the region from June 10 to 19, held talks with both the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides, and made another declarative statement upon completion of their visit.

It is noteworthy that Armenia increased provocations on the frontline during the co-chairs’ visit and killed an Azerbaijani soldier on June 15. However, there was not a word about this incident in the Minsk Group’s statement – it, as usual, called on the sides “to reduce tensions on the frontline and re-engage in substantive negotiations.”

As soon as the mediators manage to gain some success in the negotiation process, the Armenian side steps back to freeze the peace talks again.

Lack of effective results and inaction of the OSCE Minsk Group causes public discontent in Azerbaijan, and many Azerbaijani officials and experts note the failure of the Group’s work.

“The institution of triple co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group, established in 1997, has not led to the desired result – the start of eliminating military consequences of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its political settlement,” Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu told TASS on July 3.

He noted that Azerbaijan has been emphasizing that the time has long come to take effective steps to resolve the conflict, adding that the current status quo, particularly the ongoing occupation of Azerbaijan’s territory, is unacceptable.

Azerbaijani MP Asim Mollazade, in turn, told Milli.az that he doesn’t expect anything from talks with Armenia to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“We don’t see any criticism from the OSCE Minsk Group and other international organizations against Armenia, which occupied Azerbaijan’s territory, let alone sanctions,” he said. “In this case, Armenia naturally continues its occupation policy as it remains unpunished and feels free.”

Mollazade added that Armenia continues to commit provocations on the frontline, and no trend is seen for the settlement of the conflict. “The co-chairs meet in the most beautiful capitals of the world, but there is no progress in the negotiation process.”

The political expert Arzu Nagiyev also expects no serious result from the meeting of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia that is probable to take place in Austria on July 11.

“I think that international law does not work regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, that’s why we can say this meeting will be held the same way that the previous ones,” Nagiyev said.

The expert, reminding that the conflict has been existing for more than 20 years, said the irresponsibility of the Minsk Group co-chairs is one of the main factors in the continuation of the conflict and the failure to resolve the process within the framework of UN laws.

The long-standing Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is still unresolved although Azerbaijan has repeatedly expressed its consent to come to the negotiating table with Armenia to solve the conflict by peaceful means. However, Armenia continues to play for time in order to preserve the status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the OSCE Minsk Group looks like a passive player in the process.