YEREVAN. - One of the problems in Karabakh peace process is possible political consequences for those who take the initiative for mutual concessions, said Germany’s Ambassador to Armenia Hans-Jochen Schmidt.

“Back in 1997 Levon Ter-Petrosyan was most likely ready to resolve the conflict based on mutual concessions but this apparently led to some political implications,” he said.

According to him, if one side is ready for compromises, it is important that country’s leadership should be supported by the society.  

“Both Armenia and Azerbaijan have recently followed our response to declaration of independence of Kosovo or Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. As regards Kosovo, recognition of the new state was based on self-determination of people. Russia considers this principle applicable to Abkhazia and South Ossetia. However, we believe that the case of Kosovo differs significantly,” he said.

Ambassador stressed Germany supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group. As to principles of international law, they must be viewed equally in all the cases, he added.  Prioritization of one of the principles will call into question neutrality of the Minsk Group as a mediator, Schmidt stressed.

“Over the last decades, the issue of self-determination was realized in many cases starting from decolonization of Africa and up to East Timor, Kosovo and Southern Sudan. However, the experts must make assessment of these processes. In the peace process confidence in neutrality of the Minsk Group depends on maintenance of parity,” he concluded.