16 July 2004, 14:41
OSCE Minsk Group's activity believed 'untalented'
A Social Democratic Party leader accuses the OSCE Minsk Group of inability to facilitate the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem.
In an interview to Caucasian Knot, Araz Alizade, a leader of the Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (SDPA), touched upon the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group. He criticized the Group's position on the Nagorno-Karabakh problem accusing this organization of inability to fulfill its duties.
"In his most recent statement, OSCE Chairman-in-Office Solomon Passy admitted that none of the intermediaries would be able to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The parties to it are to solve this problem themselves and the OSCE is incapable to exert pressure on them. These words clarify the situation. The SDPA believes OSCE mediation in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue should be rejected once and for all. The most acceptable option is to return to UN mediation."
The SDPA is among the oldest parties in Azerbaijan and it is a consultative member of the Socialist International. Azerbaijan's first president, Aiaz Mutalibov, who had to emigrate in Moscow, Russia, is one of the SDPA leaders.
Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent
