ARMENIAN CONFERENCE OF PARLIAMENTARIAN FRIENDSHIP

Azat Artsakh – Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
June 21 2004

By the undertaking of the speaker of the National Assembly of RA
Artur Baghdassarian the first meeting of the Armenian Conference of
Parliamentarian Friendship with the participation of 75 representatives
of 25 countries started on June 18. The delegation from NKR was
headed by NKR NA speaker Oleg Yessayan. The aim of the conference
is to bring together the efforts of the National Assembly of the
Republic of Armenia, members of parliament of Armenian nationality
representing the parliaments of different countries of the world and
the groups of parliamentarian friendship with the National Assembly,
and direct at the promotion of democracy in Armenia, working out
ways of settlement of all-Armenian problems together, promotion of
inter-parliamentarian relations, effective use of the international
experience of parliamentarism in the republic. During the discussion
of all-Armenian issues the regulation of the problem of Karabakh
was paid special attention. Each of the speech-makers touching upon
the importance of a fair settlement favouring the Armenian party
mentioned that this conference may have positive influence on this
crucial and urgent problem. The speaker of the NKR National Assembly
mentioned that they will participate actively in these meetings and
said that hopefully one of the future meetings will take place in
Artsakh as well. The speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia
Artur Baghdassarian presenting the significance of the conference
in his address emphasized that it may become important basis and
stimulus for the settlement of numerous issues that the Republic of
Armenia is now facing. Touching upon these issues Artur Baghdassarian
emphasized the settlement of the Karabakh problem. “Armenia has always
supported the settlement of the conflict through peaceful political
negotiations assuming the necessity of compromise. All the political
forces of the parliament of Armenia are unanimous in this question and
made a joint political statement. We think that in the past decade
Nagorni Karabakh proved to the world its accomplishment as a state
and deserved the independent status. The people of Nagorni Karabakh
expressed their will in the referendum and no force can deprive them
of their right for national self-determination. Armenia considers its
duty to back Nagorni Karabakh in all its undertakings. We seek for the
participation of NKR in the negotiations as a separate party for any
achievement of the negotiations must first of all be acceptable for
the people of Karabakh,” said the speaker of the National Assembly
of RA. For known reasons the president of the Republic of Armenia
was not present at the conference, and his message was presented by
Artashess Toumanian. “I am grateful to the friends of Armenia who,
being represented in parliaments of different countries, make their
contribution to progress in Armenia.” Underlying the speeches was the
unity Armenia-Diaspora-Nagorni Karabakh, and as the speaker of the
NKR parliament mentioned, the important thing is maintenance of this
unity. According to the chairman of the World Armenian Congress Ara
Abrahamian, “The problem of Karabakh is extremely important for us, the
fair settlement of which may be a favourable factor for the Republic
of Armenia. And in this framework this conference will also have an
important role.” Anyway, according to the foreign minister of Armenia
Vardan Oskanian, “After the two-day discussions it will become clear
what contribution each of the participants of the conference can make
to the settlement of the problems presented at the conference.” Let
us hope that these discussions will become real actions.

CHRISTINE MNATSAKANIAN.