Azerbaijan opposes draft resolution regarding Ukraine crisis

Bahar Muradova: “The draft resolution has a limited subject, is unilateral and does not fully cover the conflicts in the region”Dispute occurred during the discussion of the draft resolution regarding Ukraine crisis at the OSCE PA summer session in Baku. At today’s meeting of the Standing Committee of the OSCE PA, President Ranko Krivokapić submitted for discussion the draft resolution of deputy head of the U.S. delegation to OSCE PA, Senator Benjamin Cardin regarding Ukraine crisis. The draft resolution condemns Russia’s aggressive policy against Ukraine, demands the immediate liberation of Crimea and otherwise envisages the imposition of serious sanctions on Russia. First reaction for the resolution came from Azerbaijan. Head of the Azerbaijani delegation to the OSCE PA Bahar Muradova opposed the resolution. Muradova noted that the adoption of such resolutions in the subject of conflicts is unjust: “If we adopt resolution about the conflict in the region, we have to consider all conflicts in the region. Why do you forget the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict? The OSCE, including the U.S. has not come to a conclusion for 22 years. Now, you are passing over this and discussing unilateral issues. I repeatedly told Mr Cardin that as a co-chairing country of the Minsk Group, the U.S. should take serious steps to fulfill its commitments to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijan has been looking forward to the return of our occupied territories for 22 years, and we expect it from you. Over a million refugees and IDPs are awaiting you. While we have been waiting for the adoption of such a resolution for 22 years, you once again neglect this issue in our country, adopting a unilateral resolution for a new conflict. We think an opportunity has now come up for OSCE to take steps to prevent the existing conflicts in the region, and future conflicts that are likely to occur. Therefore, we propose and demand that either Mr Cardin includes all the conflicts into this resolution, provisions to be presented therein meet the interests of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova in a balanced manner or take this document back and work on it and submit it for discussion during the “Helsinki+40” event, for whose anniversary we are preparing for. This resolution has a limited subject at the moment, is unilateral and does not fully cover the conflicts in the region. Therefore, we are completely against the adoption of the document”. Head of the Ukrainian delegation to OSCE PA Oleg Zarubinsky said you do not need to be a mature lawyer when you’re talking about international law: “There are conflicts outside Ukraine, too. If we don’t react to direct violation of international principles, then why have we gathered here? Russia has violated the norms and principles of international law. If we’re going to tolerate it, then why are we working? Let’s go away back to our countries and await our end”. (APA)Bakudaily.az