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Monitoring Committee calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to cooperation at demining works

22 April 2021 14:04 (UTC +04:00)

Monitoring Committee of the PACE has released a statement on the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, APA's bureau in Britain reports.

It has been noted in the statement that the military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the developments since the trilateral statement of 9-10 November 2020 are of great importance to the Council of Europe and have been closely followed by the Monitoring Committee.

"In co-ordination with other relevant committees it has heard from representatives of both countries as well as independent experts, and the co-rapporteurs for Armenia and Azerbaijan have regularly made joint statements on the developments taking place. The Committee is convinced that the national parliament of both countries can and should play an important role in the reconciliation process and the resumption of concrete peace negotiations between the parties."

The progress made with the implementation of the trilateral statement has been welcomed in the statement.

The Monitoring Committee notes that both parties should reinforce their cooperation and communication aimed at demining the concerned areas, with a view to ensuring safety of civilians.

It has been noted in the statement that establishment of an independent international mission responsible for investigating the conflict and allegations of human rights and humanitarian law violations during the recent hostilities is essential to create an environment that is conducive to reconciliation and the establishment of genuine peace.

It has been noted in the statement that exchange of all persons, detained in the context of war without any distinction, is important.

Furthermore, it has been stressed that cultural heritage is important and the urgent establishment of the necessary mechanisms to ensure its protection and renovation is a priority.

The Committee calls both parties to constructively engage with the relevant international institutions, in particular the OSCE Minsk Group with a view to fully implementing the trilateral statement, and start the peace negotiations.