OSCE Minsk Group - three countries not enough?

Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 26 By Meftun Salmanov – Trend: The issue of increasing the number of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries is on the agenda again. Besides the US, Russia and France, it is also planned to include Germany and Turkey. Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Political Affairs and Security in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Azay Guliyev said that he will make this proposal at the next session. Presently, there is a more important reason for the issue to gain relevance. The position shown by German Chancellor Angela Merkel was unexpected during Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s working visit to Germany, though this can be viewed as a logical continuation of the events in Germany. For the first time Merkel voiced a factor of Russia’s support to Armenia in the violation of the ceasefire on the contact line between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops. One of the main reasons forcing the Chancellor to recognize this truth is the policy of Russia towards Ukraine. The co-chair countries support Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, but the efficiency rate of their activity on the conflict settlement is zero. There are inherent reasons for an unfair approach of the trilateral format: - Moscow is the closest strategic ally of Armenia and has a military base in that country. - In the US there's Armenian diaspora, as well as strong positions of pro-Armenian congressmen. - And France, which uses penalty for non-recognition of the fictitious Armenian genocide, is one of the closest patrons Armenians. These facts and the need to maintain balance stipulates that the Minsk Group needs “donor’s blood.” The lack of a Muslim country in this "trio" needs to be addressed with help of Turkey. Ankara has authority in the region, but most importantly, its position is fair. It is also necessary not to forget that the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations depends on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. If Yerevan really wants to normalize relations with Ankara, it must agree to Turkey's mediation. As for Berlin, the EU in the Minsk group is represented by France, but at the same time, the interests of Germany, which is the most powerful state of the structure, are being forgotten. Germany can demonstrate a much more fair position in relation to the OSCE Minsk group co-chair countries, because unlike the other states, the Armenian diaspora is much weaker in terms of influence on this country. Mediation of Germany, which is a Christian state, should suit Armenia as well. The events happening in Ukraine makes Europe, led by Germany, change its policy on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can be spread in Europe as a precedent, and its first signs can already be seen in the east of Ukraine. So far, the only conflict taking place in Europe between the independent Muslim and Christian state is the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Its settlement can initiate the era of stability not only in the region but also throughout Europe. Follow us on Twitter @TRENDNewsAgency