Chairperson-in-Office: Resolving protracted conflicts – priority for OSCE

Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb.9 / Trend E.Tariverdiyeva / Protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms as well as making progress on resolving protracted conflicts are priorities of the 2012 Irish OSCE Chairmanship, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Irish Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore told the US Helsinki Commission in Washington on Feb.9. He expressed the Chairmanship's readiness to build on the momentum in the Transdniestrian settlement process at a meeting in the "5+2" format in Dublin later this month, as well as its commitment to facilitating progress on other protracted conflicts in the OSCE region. "As you well know, we in Ireland can empathize only too well with those who are engaged in seemingly intractable conflicts. In Northern Ireland, the courage of leaders on both sides to negotiate and make compromises in the interest of peace, together with the perseverance of the Irish and British Governments, as well as international support - in particular from the United States - has resulted in a lasting settlement," he said stressing the potential lessons from Ireland's own experience in conflict resolution. During his visit, the Chairperson also met US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az