MEETING AT NKR NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
22 Oct 04

On October 20 the speaker of the NKR National Assembly Oleg Yessayan
met with the British group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union on visit
in Stepanakert. The delegation included members of parliament of the
House of Commons Gordon Marsden (head of the delegation), Jane
Griffits, Candy Aterton, member of the House of Lords Baroness
Caroline Cox, vice secretary of the group Jim Rogers.

Addressing the guests, the speaker of the National Assembly pointed
out the significance of the visit of the delegation representing the
British parliament. At the same time he mentioned that this and
similar events in Nagorni Karabakh are not regarded as a fact of
recognizing NKR but are highly appreciated asan `expression of
attention towards our country and people’. Gordon Marsden said that
taking into consideration all the political complications, as
individual parliamentarians they personally treat Karabakh people and
theirefforts with respect, the evidence to which is this cognitive
visit. During the talk questions concerning the Karabakh problem and
the process of peaceful settlement, the formation of the legislative
sphere, post war restoration, results of democratization of the public
and political life in Karabakh were discussed. `We think’, said the NA
speaker, `that we shall not attract theattention of the European
community if we do not direct our efforts at promotion of the commonly
acceptable values adopted by Europe and building a civil society.’
Mentioning that a lot still has to be done on this way, he said, `We
are readyto present to our guests all we have achieved without being
recognized, without the help of the international community.’ At the
meeting were present the chairman of the NKR NA permanent committee of
foreign relationships Vahram Atanessian, leaders of the parliament
groups of Democratic Liberal Union and Armenian Revolutionary
Federation Janna Galstian and Vahram Balayan, vice foreign minister of
NKR Masis Mayilian.

AA.
22-10-2004