Armenians, Azeris continue clashes over joint conferences

The Messenger, Georgia
Nov 12 2004

According to the Azeri newspaper Zerkalo.Baku, the European Union,
Council of Europe and State Duma of the Russian Federation all made
the offer to hold meetings of the heads of the parliaments of the
South Caucasus countries. According to the Speaker of Mili Mejlisa of
Azerbaijan Murtuz Aleskerov, Azerbaijan is not against this initiative.

According to the paper, one meeting of the speakers of the parliament
of the South Caucasus countries was held recently in Versailles
Palace near Paris by the initiative the chair of senate of France
Christian Ponsole. As Aleskerov said, participants of the meeting were
informed about the cases of destruction of some Azeri cultural-historic
monuments as the result of aggression from Armenia. “Talk regarding
the regional cooperation can take place only after the release of
Azeri lands, the return refugees and forced immigrants to their native
land. Armenian-Azeri, Nagorno-Karabakh, and also Georgian conflicts
are the main obstacles for the development of the Caucasus region,”
said Aleskerov.

According to the speaker, the Armenian side did not present
any important ideas regarding the issues which were discussed,
particularly, regarding the Karabakh conflict, and only noted that they
support the settlement of this problem in a peaceful way. “The Azeri
delegation once again stated that the problem must be settled within
the framework of the international rights and territorial integrity of
the country, and we will not step back from our standpoint,” he said.

As for the participation of an Armenian delegation in the forthcoming
conference to be held in Baku in the end of November, “Rose-Road” of
the Parliamentary Assembly of the NATO, Alekserov noted that their
participation “does not present much importance for us, though we
are not against their arrival.”

Meanwhile, reports surfaced that the Armenian side intends to take
part in the conference “Rose Road” being organized by the Parliamentary
Assembly of NATO in Baku. Earlier this year, authorities of Azerbaijan
did not allow an Armenian delegation to attend the training exercises
NATO Best Effort 2004. Proceeding from this fact, the training was
cancelled.

As head of the commission in the defense issues, national security and
internal affairs of the National Assembly of Armenia Mger Shakhgeldian
stated that besides himself MPs Alekasn Karapetian and Artur Petrosian
will be a part of the Armenian delegation. Shakhgeldian noted that
the Armenian side has already informed organizers of the conference
regarding its decision.

As for visas, the Armenian MPs will receive them upon arrival in
Baku. The conference Rose Road is planned to be held on November 26-28,
despite the fact that some local Azerbaijan parties and organizations
have held demonstrations against the Armenians’ arrival.