YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. The statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs over the Azerbaijani sabotage infiltration attempt in Armenia’s Tavush province will only encourage Azerbaijan to continue its atrocities, Larisa Alaverdyan – director of “Against Violation of law” NGO, told reporters on January 12, reports “Armenpress”.

“Such statements only conceal the atrocities that are being committed by Azerbaijan, and they cannot contribute to the establishment of peace. Such statement is an indirect participation in Azerbaijan’s atrocities”, Alaverdyan said, adding that here the problem is not only in the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. “The Armenian diplomacy must also carry out a thorough work by involving the Armenian structures and organizations of the Diaspora. It is necessary to intensify the works at the diplomatic direction”, she said.  

She considers strange the fact that the MG Co-Chairs in their statement call on Armenia to take a humanitarian step and return the body of an Azerbaijani saboteur in case when during the April events they didn’t issue any assessment over the Azerbaijani atrocities, they didn’t make humanitarian calls directed to the Azerbaijanis. “It turns that the Co-Chairs expect a manifestation of humanism only from one side”, she said.

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.

12 days after 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. The Co-Chairs urged Armenia to demonstrate a humanitarian step and return the body of the Azerbaijani saboteur killed in the Armenian territory. They urge the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to strictly observe the agreements reached during summits in Vienna and St. Petersburg in 2016, including obligations to finalize in the shortest possible time an OSCE investigative mechanism.