YEREVAN, JANUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. The statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs over the Azerbaijani aggression conducted at the borders of Armenia is another toothless statement which enables Azerbaijan to continue its policy on escalating the situation in the region, “Heritage” faction MP, member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Tevan Poghosyan told “Armenpress”.

“From the one hand we can understand that two of the three Minsk Group Co-Chairing countries have changed the Co-Chairs and there is a rotation problem, but they must understand that the works and role of the Minsk Group must be assessed accordingly which is not being done. They refer to the agreements reached in Vienna and St. Petersburg, but they know very well which side refuses to implement those agreements and they bother to mention about it in one sentence”, the MP said.

He said first of all the Minsk Group Co-Chairs must have concentrated on the fact that the attack this time happened on Armenia’s borders, rather than to demand from the Armenian side the return of the body of the Azerbaijani saboteur. “Azerbaijan demands the body of its saboteur, but that country must firstly explain how that body appeared in the territory of Armenia and only after that it will have a right to demand the body”, Tevan Poghosyan said.

“We appreciate the work done by the Minsk Group Co-Chairs in Vienna and St. Petersburg, but they must be demanding in order the agreements to be implemented. They know quite well which side refuses from the agreements on expansion of the capabilities of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office,  installation of investigative mechanisms for incidents in the line of contact. And it would be better if they force Azerbaijan to adhere to the agreements that were reached at the Vienna and St. Petersburg summits by their efforts”, the MP stated.

In conclusion, the MP said unfortunately the Minsk Group’s latest statement just bears a formal nature and contributes to the continuation of the Azerbaijani policy on creating tension in the region.

Azerbaijani forces attempted a sabotage infiltration in the Armenian state border, south-east from Chinari village of Tavush province in the early morning of December 29. The Armenian Armed Forces have neutralized the Azerbaijan attacks. Azerbaijani forces were pushed back, suffering losses and WIAs, including in the military positions. Three Armenian servicemen were killed.

After 12 days of the failed sabotage infiltration attempt, the Minsk Group Co-Chairs issued a statement stating that Baku and Yerevan continue to accuse each other of a December 29, 2016 attempted incursion on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border resulting in casualties.