Azerbaijan Does Not Participate in Conference, Clearly Demonstrating Its True Approaches: Papikyan

On December 17, the Swedish presidency of the OSCE organized an online conference dedicated to the consequences of the 44-day war in Artsakh and the role of the OSCE in the political resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijan did not participate in the conference, as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.

During the conference, Armenia's Permanent Representative to the OSCE, Ambassador Armen Papikyan, noted that there is no alternative to the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and the results of the use of force cannot serve as the basis for sustainable peace. The ambassador emphasized that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict began as a result of Azerbaijan's oppression of the right to self-determination of the Armenian people, accompanied by organized ethnic cleansing and massacres against them. He added that a comprehensive and lasting resolution of the conflict is only possible through the realization of this inalienable right.

Speaking about measures to prepare populations for peace and build security and trust, Papikyan highlighted that Armenia has always advocated for the establishment of a favorable environment for peace. According to him, Azerbaijan should adopt a similar approach, primarily by returning all Armenian prisoners of war and other captives, withdrawing its troops from Armenia's sovereign territory, and refraining from new provocations, militaristic rhetoric, and territorial claims against Armenia.

Papikyan stated that the destruction, falsification, and illegal appropriation of Armenian cultural heritage also hinder the advancement of the peace agenda in the region and emphasized the importance of unhindered access for international specialized organizations to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. From the perspective of protecting Armenian cultural heritage, the Permanent Representative stressed the significance of the ruling of the International Court of Justice.

The Permanent Representative reiterated Armenia's readiness to actively engage in peaceful negotiations for the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group. The importance of restoring visits by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to the region was also highlighted.

The ambassador emphasized that Azerbaijan's decision not to participate in this conference organized by the OSCE Swedish presidency, aimed at promoting dialogue, clearly showcases Azerbaijan's true approaches to resuming the negotiation process and normalizing relations with Armenia.

Within the framework of three sessions, participants of the conference also discussed the role of confidence and security-building measures in preparing populations for peace, including the unblocking of economic and transport links, addressing environmental challenges, the protection of the region's cultural heritage, as well as human rights and fundamental freedoms.