RIA Novosti, Russia
Sept 22 2004
ARMENIA DISSATISFIED WITH PACE REPORT ON NAGORNY KARABAKH
YEREVAN, September 22 (RIA Novosti) – Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan has expressed dissatisfaction over the report on
Nagorny Karabakh delivered by Terry Davis, ex-Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe (PACE) reporter on Nagorny Karabakh.
“It is unacceptable for Armenia,” Mr Oskanyan told pressmen.
The minister does not believe either that the new PACE reporter,
David Atkinson of Britain, will be unbiased. Mr Oskanyan said he was
aware of Britain’s position on territorial integrity issues.
“The ex-rapporteur’s report shall be seen merely as a viewpoint that
is not legally binding and is not fraught with any consequences,”
Tigran Torosyan, Armenian Parliament Vice-Speaker, said in earlier
remarks on Mr Davis’ report. Mr Torosyan noted that terms like
“ethnic cleansing” had appeared in the report. However, he complained
that they were applied equally in relation to Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Besides, the report acknowledges Azerbaijan and Armenia’s equal
rights to territorial integrity and national self-determination.
Mr Torosyan said the phrase “A major part of Azerbaijan’s territory
is so far occupied by Armenia and the separatist forces are
continuing to maintain control over the Republic of Nagorny Karabakh”
was absolutely unacceptable for Armenia.
Armenia believes the only positive provision in the report is the one
reading that the Azerbaijani authorities have been invited to
establish contacts with the republic’s forces for discussing its
status in the future.
Terry Davis, who led the British delegation at PACE and the
organisation’s socialist faction, was appointed reporter on Nagorny
Karabakh at the summer session in 2002. In June 2004, Mr Davis was
elected Secretary General of the Council of Europe. His report on
Karabakh was heard at the PACE Political Council’s meeting in Paris
on September 14. British deputy David Atkinson was elected new
reporter on the Krabakh problem on the same day.
Mr Atkinson has already announced an intention to meet all parties to
the conflict. However, it is not immediately clear when his visit to
the region will take place.