KARABAKH CONFLICT MUST BE SETTLED TAKING INTO ACCOUNT
INTERNATIONAL LEGAL NORMS

YEREVAN, APRIL 19. ARMINFO. The Karabakh conflict must be settled
only by means of strengthening of the status of Nagorny Karabakh and
ensuring of even guarantees of security of the people of Nagorny
Karabakh and bordering territories, as well as of refugees. It is
said in the statement of the Commission on parliamentary cooperation
Armenia-EU, made on April 14 in Strasbourg.

In the document the Commission stresses the necessity of the
participation of the people of Nagorny Karabakh in the negotiation
process. The Commission also confirms its readiness to provide
assistance in the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict on the
basis of international legal norms, including the principle of rights
of peoples for self-determination. The Commission also stresses that
the uncertainty of the issue on the status of Nagorny Karabakh must
not hinder the international community to respect the main rights
and freedoms of the people of Nagorny Karabakh. The authors of the
statement also stress the necessity of the participation of the
international community in the process of peaceful settlement of
the Karabakh conflict. At the same time the commission thinks that
the final settlement of the conflict may be reached only between the
Armenian and Azerbaijani parties through the mediation of the OSCE
Minsk Group.

Taking into consideration the conclusion of the OSCE expert group
for study of the situation in the territories bordering to Nagorny
Karabakh, the commission welcomes the assistance of the authorities
of Armenia and Nagorny Karabakh to the activity of the group. The
commission calls on the conflicting parties to create conditions
for safe repatriation of the refugees. The commission calls on the
conflicting parties to abstain from allegations and actions, which may
result in additional tension in the region or resumption of military
operations. The commission considers inadmissible the settlement of
the Karabakh problem by force.

The commission calls on the conflicting parties for sooner settlement
of the problem, which is an obstacle on the way of establishment of
regional cooperation. The real pre-condition for reconciliation of the
Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples, ensuring stability in the region
of the South Caucasus is the establishment of Armenian-Azerbaijani
trade-economic cooperation. The commission calls on other countries
of the region not to create obstacles on the way of establishment
of cooperation between the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides and
not to put the issue of settlement of the Karabakh conflict as
a preliminary condition for these relations. The establishment of
regional cooperation between the countries of the South Caucasus is a
pre-condition for their sooner integration into European structures,
said in the document. The commission says that the growing involvement
of EU in regional processes supposes activation of its efforts in
settlement of conflicts in the South Caucasus and implementation of
regional reforms.

As Armenian Cochairman of the Commission, Head of parliamentary
commission for foreign relations of Armenia Armen Roustamian pointed
out during the news conference at National Assembly of Armenia
Tuesday that the making of this statement required much efforts
from the Armenian side, as European parliamentarians being members
of the commission at the same time are members of the commission on
cooperation Azerbaijan-EU. Armen Roustamian informed that the sitting
of this commission is held in Baku now, and a statement regarding
Azerbaijan will be made.