NATO Rose Roth seminar starts in Baku

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Nov 26 2004

The 58th Rose Roth seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly started
in Baku on Thursday. The event is attended by the administration
of NATO PA and the Azerbaijani parliament, along with parliament
delegations from Turkey, Spain, Serbia and Montenegro, Russia, Great
Britain, Georgia, Austria, Hungary, France and Estonia and ambassadors
accredited in Azerbaijan.

Addressing the seminar, the Milli Majlis (parliament) speaker
Alasgarov spoke of the ongoing occupation of Azeri lands by Armenia,
the involvement of Azerbaijani military in peacekeeping efforts around
the world and other issues.

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly Secretary General Simon Lunn said the
idea of holding Rose Roth seminars was proposed for the first time
back in 1991 by members of US Congress. The key goal of such events
is first of all, to promote sustainable safety environment in regions
with complex political situation, he said.

Lunn said the seminar will be held in Armenia next year and that NATO
should not be deemed strictly as a military organization. A number
of countries aspire to join the alliance that would assist them in
resolving internal problems, he said.

Brenda Shaffer of the Caspian Studies Program at Harvard University
spoke about ways of expanding the opportunities for resolving
conflicts in the South Caucasus region. Russia’s role in this process
is important, she said.

“The Upper Garabagh conflict must be resolved for the sake of security
in South Caucasus. At times we refer to frozen conflicts. But there
is no such concept and it is possible to settle any conflict.”

The seminar is due to last till November 27.*