CHAIRMAN OF TURKEY’S PARLIAMENT REGRETS FOR “TRAGEDY OF THE BEGINNING
OF THE CENTURY” BUT CONSIDERS INADMISSIBLE ITS “SPECULATION”

YEREVAN, December 1 (Noyan Tapan). The members of RA NA delegation who
participated in the 24th plenary session of Parliamentary Assembly of
Black Sea Economic Cooperation held on November 23-25 in Antalia had a
meeting with journalists on December 1. 2 of 4 members of Armenian
delegation hadn’t left for Antalia for valid reasons.

Mekhak Mkhitarian (Orinats Yerkir) and Vladimir Badalian (National
Deputy MP group) who participated in the session told the journalists
that about 20 issues were included into the agenda. In particular,
issues regarding simplification of border admission of people and
goods, economic results and perspectives, preservation of regional
stability and security, role of the parliament in struggle against
corruption, preservation of cultural heritage were discussed. The
2005 budget of the organization was also approved. The number of 11
member-states of the organizations increased by 1, Serbia also became
a member of the organization. The Ukraine assumed the chairmanship of
PA for the next 6 months. The next plenary session will be held in
July 2005 in Kiev.

It was also mentioned that Vladimir Badalian was elected Deputy
Chairman of one of 3 standing commissions of PA, commission on
cultural and social issues. The MP drew special attention to the sad
condition of 916 Armenian historic-cultural monuments in Turkey’s
territory, especially to the sad condition of Ani and proposed that
they should be restored jointly with Armenia. But, according to him,
the proposal was ignored.

The Parliamentary Assembly discussed and declined Georgia’s proposal
“to stop cooperation with the countries with separatist regimes”. The
proposal received 3 for and 3 against votes, 4 MPs abstained from
voting. Besides Armenia, RF and Turkey were also against the proposal.

The Armenian MPs were especially impressed by the meeting with Bulent
Arnj, Chairman of Turkey’s Parliament, and the “warm atmosphere.” The
perspectives of Armenian-Turkish relations, Turkey’s possible
membership in EU, issues of Nagorno Karabakh settlement were discussed
during the meeting lasting half an hour. In particular, the Turkish
high-ranking official called in question the efficiency of activity of
OSCE Minsk Group and expressed bewilderment in connection with the
fact that Armenia declined Turkey’s readiness of mediation in Karabakh
issue. He mentioned that the steps aimed at recognition of Armenian
Genocide and especially the activity of Turkish Armenians in this
issue hamper establishment of friendly relations between Armenia and
Turkey. Not using the “genocide” word Arnj said in private
conversation that he regrets for the tragedy of the beginning of the
century but considers inadmissible the speculation of the issue. The
Armenian MPs didn’t agree to Arnj’s viewpoint and, in particular,
expressed an opinion that Turkey should display equal approaches both
to the other countries of the region and to Armenia.