Does Karabagh need peacekeeping troops? US suggests to deploy peacekeeping troops in in Karabakh, Transdnestria and Abkhazia

Russian and Azeri mass media, quoting ‘reliable sources’, informed recently that within the framework of Davos international economic forum held in New York several US officials delivered a document comprised of 8 articles to the Russian prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov. Three articles of the document refer to military issues. With this document US suggests Russia to deploy Turkish peacekeeping forces in the Abkhaz-Georgian conflict zone. They also suggest to station NATO forces in Trans-Dniestr and French peace troops in Karabagh.

Azeri foreign minister Vilayat Guliyev said to Azeri ‘Space’ TV channel that this information is ‘not checked’ so he ‘can not comment on it’. ‘Who is inviting peacekeeping forces here? Only the conflict sides- Azerbaijan and Armenia have the right to invite them, and that is when certain agreements are reached. How can peacekeeping forces be stationed in the region when there is no clear proposal of the Karabagh conflict adjustment?’,- said Guliyev.

Azeri defense minister Safar Abiyev is also unaware about the US suggestion to deploy peace-troops in the region. ‘May be this is the new proposal of the OSCE Minsk Group?’,- wonders Azeri Space TV channel.

There is a clause on deploying OSCE international peacekeeping forces in Nagorno-Karabagh and its neighboring territories in the Karabagh conflict regulation five-clause document adopted at 1994 OSCE Budapest summit. The 4-th clause of the document says that the deployment of peacekeeping forces is a necessary part of implementation of the conflict’s peace agreement. Of course, providing that the deployment of peace troops follows the conclusion of peace treaty and is approved by the UN Security Council mandate.

Presidents Kocharian and Aliyev discussed the issue of stationing peacekeeping forces in the territory of Karabagh and its neighboring territories during numerous meetings. And the authorities of Stepanakert declared frequently that the Karabagh conflict is unique for the fact that the cease-fire regime between the sides is kept without mediation of peacekeeping forces, i.e. Karabagh does not welcome the idea of stationing peace troops in its territory.