AZERBAIJAN, GEORGIA AND ARMENIA SIGN TRIPARTITE MEMORANDUM ON CREATION OF INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF SOUTH CAUCASIAN COUNTRIES

TBILISI, JUNE 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Yesterday a tripartite memorandum on
creation of Inter-parliamentary Assembly of South Caucasian countries
was signed at the Georgian parliament. After the ceremony of signing
negotiations were conducted among Georgian Parliamentary Speaker
Nino Burjanadze, Milli Majlis deputy Siyavush Novruzov and RA NA
Vice-Speaker Tigran Torosian. In her interview to the APA agency Nino
Burjanadze called the signing of the memorandum an important event. “We
took an important step on the way of creation of an Inter-parliamentary
Assembly of South Caucasian countries. I am glad that both Azeri
and Armenian parties signed this memorandum. We are sure that the
Inter-parliamentary Assembly of South Caucasian countries created on
the basis and positive experience of the Inter-parliamentary Assembly
of Baltic countries will assist to formation of our relations, will
play a key role in solution of problems among our countries, as well
as will assist to come up with a united front in solution of some
problems at international organizations.” Nino Burjanadze called the
signing of the document by Azerbaijan and Armenia a positive step
in spite of the fact that both states are at war. “In a one word,
the Inter-parliamentary Assembly of South Caucasian countries will
create conditions for all of 3 states to come up with a united
front in negotiations with the European Union, NATO and European
structures. With this we can show the countries of the world that
in spite of existence of problems among South Caucasian countries,
we can come up with a united position.” Siyavush Novruzov said:
“Our today’s meeting once more showed that in order to solve the
problems existing in the South Caucasus and first of all the Karabakh
conflict important for Azerbaijan we should hold joint discussions
and find ways of solution of the problems.” Tigran Torosian reminded
in his interview that deputies of all of 3 countries have declared
about their readiness for cooperation for several times: “We worked
jointly within the framework of the South Caucasian Parliament
during the last 3 years. I am sure that we have done much during
this period. I want to especially mention that we achieved turning
of the idea of South Caucasian Parliament into the idea of creation
of an Inter-parliamentary Assembly of South Caucasian countries. The
common goal within the framework of the assembly is integration to
Europe. And joint activity can bring a large profit here. I want to
mention that our parliaments still have much to do in order that the
Inter-parliamentary Assembly created today on paper shouldn’t remain
only an idea but turn into an organization doing a concrete work. And
as for difficulties and misunderstandings existing in our region,
I am sure that they can be solved no matter how difficult they are.”