TOROSSIAN DISAPPROVES DAVIS’ REPORT
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
24 Sept 04
Last week the problem of Karabakh conflict was discussed not only in
Astana but also in Paris. Here during the September 13-15 session of
the PACE Political Commission British parliamentarian David Atkinson
was appointed reporter on Nagorni Karabakh. His predecessor Terry
Davis was elected general secretaryof the Council of Europe in summer
and during the session last week Terry Davis presented his
document. The discussion of the document was postponed because of the
election of Davis. The delegation of Armenia headed by the vice
speaker of the RA National Assembly Tigran Torossian has already
returned to Yerevan. meeting with journalists Mr. Torossian resented
the details of the report of the former PACE reporter on Nagorni
Karabakh Terry Davis, which, according to him, contains unfavourable
statements for the Armenian party. `If there is something bad about
the report than for Armenia and Azerbaijan, such as thepoint about
ethnic cleansing’, which is, according to Tigran Torossian,
unacceptable for the Karabakh conflict. There are no unfavourable
statements for Armenia only, according to Tigran Torossian, `but there
is a positive pointfor Armenia and Nagorni Karabakh’ in which the PACE
calls the Azerbaijani authorities to establish relationships with the
political forces of Karabakh and discuss the future status of Nagorni
Karabakh, which caused discontentment in Azerbaijan. According to the
head of the Armenian delegation in Paris, even if there are
unfavourable points in Davis’ report, these will not produce any
consequences because the report does not have a legal force. By the
way, the author of the report mentioned that he was presenting the
report of a parliamentarian appointed a reporter, therefore it should
not be perceived as an opinion ofthe general secretary. The report has
no legal force and after being presented to the commission it was sent
to the archives. `Perhaps the document has ahistorical and cognitive
value and is valuable in the sense that we must plan our later works
with the consideration that similar opinions may be formed,’ said
Tigran Torossian during the press conference. According to him, `it
was not discussed and did not become a document of the commission,
that is to say it is the opinion of a member of parliament.’ And in
order to avoid similar incorrect opinions and achieve a reflection of
the real picture in the new report, inhis address in Paris Tigran
Torossian suggested the new reporter visiting the region before
preparing the report, getting acquainted with the situation, as wellas
meeting with the cochairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group, organizing a
round table on the settlement of the Karabakh problem with the
participation of Nagorni Karabakh by all means. `At the same time, in
my address I suggestedorganizing meetings of the reporter with the
representatives of Nagorni Karabakh, the representatives of Armenia
and Azerbaijan, the cochairmen of the Minsk Group.’ The latter is
very important because, unfortunately, in the suggestions of Mr.
Davis certain problems occurred in reference to the Minsk
Group. According to Torossian, his suggestion was endorsed by Terry
Davis and newly appointed reporter Atkinson. By the way, the latter
will present his document at the January session of the PACE. The
British delegate will obviously not manage to get a complete idea of
Nagorni Karabakh and the conflict without assistance. Tigran Torossian
said that hopefully through active collaboration with the British
delegate it will be possible to achieve a document which will reflect
the reality and will differ from the former, including the positive
ideas of Davis and excluding mistakes.
CHRISTINE MNATSAKANIAN.
24-09-2004