Interview with Bulgarian politician, Member of the European Parliament Andrey Kovatchev
-Mr. Kovatchev, there were clashes and shootings in Karabakh and on the ArmenianAzerbaijani border in 2016, 2018, July 2020. But this time the clashes are much more intense than the ones we witnessed for the past few decades. Why?
-Оver the last year there has been a gradual increase of provocations around Nagorno-Karabakh. We have also seen an increasing number of dismissive statements by Baku towards the OSCE Minsk Group. The exchange of sharp remarks between the Armenia and Azerbaijan continued on social media or during peaceful demonstrations in cities around the world. Then, the violent provocations from July 2020 happened. It seems that some people have thought that with the COVID-19 pandemic still preoccupying the hearts and the minds of many around the world, the international community would turn a blind eye to a potential escalation of violence such as the one we are observing currently between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
– The UN, the Minsk Group, the EU have all called for an immediate ceasefire yet the fighting continues, why?
-Any violence and unnecessary suffering must stop immediately. Violence is a destructive force that brings only pain and grief to everyone involved. I welcomed the announced ceasefire over the weekend between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but was deeply saddened that it lasted for so little. I cannot speak on behalf of the two fighting sides, but I assume that the time has not matured enough for them to agree on a ceasefire and to keep up with it. Despite the personal involvement of the President of Russia, it was very surprising that the deal for a ceasefire was not sustainable. This raises many questions.
-What you can say about Ankara’s involvement?
-There have been some serious allegations on Turkey’s military involvement in the conflict. Officially, Ankara has firmly put its weight diplomatically behind Baku, but it denies sending F-16 fighter jets or Syrian fighters to assist Azerbaijani forces in the conflict. I, along with my colleagues from the European Parliament, have called numerously for the immediate suspension of any involvement of third countries in this conflict!
-What about the Syrian terrorists?
-These accusations are extremely disturbing. While even the French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly spoken against the involvement of Syrian mercenaries, Turkey has continuously denied any such involvement. I call for an international investigation has to be carried out to to clarify where the truth lies.
-And what expect from the international community?
-The international community in the face of the EU, the UN, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs has been pretty clear on their stance in this conflict –immediate cessation of armed fighting. Both sides have to come back to the negotiating table. The OSCE Minsk Group and its Co-Chairs are the only internationally recognized mediator under whose auspices these negotiations should be carried out in order to reach a sustainable mutually-acceptable solution to this conflict on the basis of the Basic Principles Non-Use of Force, Territorial Integrity, and the Equal Rights and Self-Determination of Peoples.
– Nagorno-Karabakh has been independent for almost 30 years. Why didn’t any country recognize it?
-As I have already stated, it is obvious that unilateral actions cannot be recognized without a mutually acceptable solution for all parties involved.
– Do you see the possibility of a compromise?
-In order to reach a peaceful solution to this conflict, both sides will have to make some compromises. It cannot be me who says who should compromise what, this is something to be discussed during the process of negotiations. This conflict has been going on for thirty years. Right now, both sides believe they are right in their stances, but the more they point fingers at each other, the harder it would be to reach a solution. This difficult situation has to be overcome in order to save the lives of the potential victims and to stop the ongoing destruction and suffering.
Author-Naira Hovhannisyan
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