Dennis Sammut: "Those in Armenia and Azerbaijan who want a better future for themselves and their families need to stand up and support Moscow declaration"

- You were in Helsinki observing the Ministerial Meeting of the OSCE. Do you think the meeting was a success?

- This is a critical moment for European security. The OSCE has returned to its birth place, where in 1975 the Helsinki Final Act was signed. That document is still the basis on which relations between states in Europe are based. It is now time however for the OSCE to be refreshed and renewed and this meeting in Helsinki has started this process. I think that within a year or two the Presidents and leaders of the OSCE member states will meet to seal this process. Between now and then a lot of work needs to be done to ensure that Europe and the Euro-atlantic region have new arrangements in place that will build on the achievements of the past, but will also address the challenges of the future.

- The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan met again in Helsinki, together with the co-Chairmen of the Minsk Group. How do you assess the results of these meetings?

- After the signing of the Moscow declaration by the two Presidents in November there are expectations about the peace process. The two sides need to agree to a timetable for moving the process forward. Russia, the United States and France in their joint statement mentioned the need first to finalise the discussions on the so called Madrid Principles and following that to start negotiations on a peace agreement. The sides must engage with these two tasks as soon as possible. I think some steps in this direction took place in Helsinki.

- Different commentators have given different interpretations to the Moscow declaration. Do you think this will harm the peace process?

- The Moscow declaration is short and is in simple language. Everybody who reads it can understand it and people who try to give hidden meanings are not helping the process. The declaration says what it says, no more and no less. It is a good declaration signed by the two Presidents. It is the basis on which the next stages of the work needs to be built.

- The Azerbaijan Delegation in Helsinki also circulated a document stating its principles on the Karabakh conflict. How do you see this document?

- The document reflects the principles that guide the Azerbaijani position. It is a well known position and there is nothing new in the document issued in Helsinki by the Azerbaijan delegation. Anything that is agreed by the two sides is however the subject of negotiations. For this reason the Moscow declaration signed by the two Presidents needs to be the basis on which future work can be build.

- Are you disappointed that after the Moscow meeting things have not moved faster in the process of conflict resolution on Karabakh?

- Only four weeks have passed since the Moscow meeting. We are also awaiting the new president of the United States to take office. So it is too early to be disappointed. However I feel that it is important that the momentum created by the Moscow meeting be maintained. This is not only the responsibility of governments. I expect to hear more people supporting the Moscow declaration from amongst politicians, civil society, the media and so on. Part of the problem is that some people are saying that the Moscow declaration has a hidden meaning. I don't see a hidden meaning. The declaration is short and is clear. Those in Armenia and Azerbaijan who want a better future for themselves and their families need to stand up and support it.

/Day.Az/