International community has to hold Azerbaijanis accountable for past infractions of breaking the peace negotiations: Canadian politician

YEREVAN, AUGUST 9, ARMENPRESS. The skirmish on Karabakh-Azerbaijani border, which once again took the lives of young Azeris and Armenians, showed that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not “frozen” as it is often characterized internationally. Though it has been largely forgotten outside the conflict zone, the conflict remains unsettled, despite the 20 years that have passed. The OSCE Minsk Group has thus far failed to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict, as the temporary peace -- although fragile -- has allowed the primary parties to continually put off a more substantive, long-lasting peace settlement. Canadian politician, former Deputy of the Canadian Parliament Jim Karygiannis stated this responding the query of “Armenpress” News Agency. Jim Karygiannis was international observer at the presidential elections of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in 2012.

Among other things, Jim Karygiannis underscored: “However, the recent incidents in Nagorno-Karabakh have shown that it remains a hot spot with the power flare up again at any time, plunging people's lives back into chaos and disrupting regional security. It is time that the international community encourages both sides to get back to the negotiating table and find a solution. The international community also has to hold the Azerbaijanis accountable for past infractions of breaking the peace negotiations.”

“I have had the opportunity to visit Nagorno-Karabakh as an election observer of their Presidential Election in the summer of 2012. It was a picture perfect election with absolutely no difficulties during the election,” Karygiannis noted.