Ceasefire violations must cost Azerbaijan dearly to make it stop shooting, political scientist says
The OSCE is not likely to issue a targeted statement, condemning Azerbaijan for opening gunfire during the OSCE monitoring on the state border with Armenia’s Tavush region, a Yerevan-based political scientist said on Thursday.
Speaking to Panorama.am, political scientist Manvel Sargsyan predicted a more general response by the European structure to today’s border incident.
According to him, the OSCE does not draw conclusions from such cases and refrains from making condemning remarks. “This is its work style. This incident, as it is said, will pass away. More serious cases have been recorded that have been forgotten in two days. The OSCE has not expressed clear position on ceasefire breaches. The Armenian side must change its style of working to that end, whereas the country tolerates border incidents, which makes Azerbaijan excited,” Mr. Sargsyan highlighted.
The political scientist is convinced Armenia principally does not submit demands to the OSCE, otherwise that structure would carry out relevant activities.
Mr. Sargsyan believes Azerbaijan keeps violating ceasefire to show that it is not interested in the stances adopted by the OSCE and Armenia on the Karabakh conflict. In other words, the country seeks to show that they do not consider international structures and in this case the OSCE at all.
“The ceasefire violations must cost Azerbaijan dearly, so as that country stops making them. Azerbaijan will achieve its goals amid the atmosphere of impunity. As long as there are no restraining mechanisms, Baku turns them [ceasefire breaches] into a practice and strategy. If Azerbaijan faces political damage due to its own shooting, it will stop firing,” Mr. Sargsyan concluded.