Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
July 5 2005

OSCE PA rapporteur refrains from calling Armenia aggressor

Baku, July 4, AssA-Irada
Three powerful countries should exist in the region and they should
be reckoned with, otherwise, chaos will emerge, said the OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly rapporteur on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
over Upper Garabagh Goran Lennmarker. `We cannot allow formation of
mini-states in South Caucasus’, he said.
Presenting his report on the Garabagh conflict at the OSCE PA session
in Washington, Lennmarker said both Azerbaijan and Armenia realize
that the dispute is impeding their development. He also said
Azerbaijan should assure Armenians that there is not threat to their
security, calling on Azeri politicians and parliament members to
refrain from `hostile statements’.
`Armenia’s primary concern is its national security. Azerbaijan
should take this into account.’
Lennmarker decisively stated that Azeri territories `cannot stay
occupied’. He also suggested that demilitarization activities be
carried out in Azerbaijan’s land after it is freed from Armenian
occupation. The rapporteur also said that `the report will not be
favored by Armenians’.
Lennmarker refrained from regarding Armenia as aggressor, saying that
such terms `pose risks’.
Azerbaijani representatives at OSCE PA earlier voiced discontent over
the fact that the mentioned report did not indicate Armenia as
aggressor.*