Artsakh official: 'Neutral territory' is a long-standing military concept
In an interview with Tert.am, David Babayan, Spokesman for the President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), commented on US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick’s statement that the Nagorno-Karabakh MI-24 helicopter was shot down in the ‘no man’s land’ rather than in the ‘neutral’ territory.
According to him, the US diplomat tried to provide a diplomatic explanation for this concept.
“The fact is, however, that such areas do exist in military terms. They normally lie along the border. In our case, it may not be the right time to use the term ‘borders’, but we perceive it in this way,” Mr Babayan said.
“Neutral zone is a military concept – and, in a sense, a politico-military one. That is, it is a territory not controlled by anyone. And the world knows such precedents. For example, neutral territories between the Saudi Arabia and Persian Gulf countries. In our case, it is a de facto military concept, which has been the case for a long period.”
“It is time for specifically addressed statements because we have seen a terrorist act has been committed. Well, they released Rafim Safarov. Now they have committed a terrorist act. What else do they have to do for specifically addressed statements to be made?”
Babayan said he knows that the incident has somewhat become a matter of dignity for the OSCE which is now trying to do everything possible to probe into its causes and consequences of the crash.
Asked whether he doesn’t see a deep crisis in the process, Babayan said he would rather characterize it as a blatant contempt.
“That’s contempt by Azerbaijan, so an adequate reaction by Armenia and the mediators is necessary. Only then will the situation normalize,” the spokesperson noted.
He further stressed the importance of tough measures and statements by the mediators as part of their international commitment to promote peace. “And it is necessary to force them to fulfill their commitments under international law. I think there are many mechanisms which can ensure that,” he added.
Babayan said he thinks that despite the continuing efforts to maintain balance, the situation at times necessitates drastic steps.
“The thing is that [the mediators] have always tried to demonstrate a balanced approach not to exacerbate the situation. But we find that it is sometimes necessary to resort also to drastic steps,” he noted.