ROBERT KOCHARIAN AND DIMITRIY RUPEL DISCUSS KARABAKH PROCESS AND
ISSUES CONCERNING ARMENIA-EU COOPERATION
YEREVAN, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The process of Karabakh settlement
became the key subject of discussion at the March 30 meeting of RA
President Robert Kocharian with the members of the delegation headed
by Dimitriy Rupel, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Slovenia’s Foreign
Minister. Dimitriy Rupel mentioned the importance of activization of
contacts and negotiations between the sides in the issue of solution
of the problem and confirmed the readiness of OSCE to assist to the
process in every way possible. According to RA President’s Press
Service, Robert Kocharian emphasized that Armenia has always been for
solution of the problem by the way of searching verges of cooperation
with Azerbaijan.
According to Robert Kocharian, the establishment of regional
cooperation, as well as Karabakh’s participation in the negotiations
will have a significant influence on achievement of progress in the
process of settlement. Issues concerning Armenia-EU cooperation were
also touched upon at the meeting. The same day RA NA Speaker Artur
Baghdasarian received the delegation headed by OSCE
Chairman-in-Office. According to RA NA Press Service, issues
concerning legislative reforms in Armenia, in particular, Constitution
and Electoral Code, local self-government bodies and judicial system,
were discussed during the meeting.
Artur Baghdasarian mentioned the importance of immediate pluralistic
work with OSCE and PACE experts in realization of the reforms. 4 main
problems were mentioned in connection with constitutional reforms:
human rights protection, establishment of a balance among legislative,
executive and judicial powers, reform of local self-government
system. The NA Speaker mentioned that Armenia fulfils its obligations
in accordance with the schedule, a working group was established in
the parliament, the goal of which is to bring Armenia’s legislation
into line with the EU criterion. Expressing satisfaction with the work
done, Dimitriy Rupel, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Slovenia’s Foreign
Minister, mentioned the importance of realization of the
above-mentioned legislative reforms in accordance with the
international standards.