OSCE CHAIRMAN STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF TOP-LEVEL CONTACTS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE)

Sept 6 2005

/noticias.info/ The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Slovenian Foreign Minister
Dimitrij Rupel, stressed the importance of continuous contacts between
Azerbaijan and Armenia at the highest level in meetings with President
Robert Kocharian and other leaders in Yerevan on Tuesday.

“There have been encouraging signs in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement process over the last few months and we see both prospects
and the difficulties in the process,” Minister Rupel said.

“I understand that the discussions between the leaders of the
two countries have moved in a very constructive direction. I see a
promising opportunity for progress and I am convinced the two parties
should make full use of the opportunities to accelerate the conflict
settlement process.”

During his visit, Minister Rupel also met Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and representatives of
NGOs. He had a separate meeting with the leader of Nagorno-Karabakh,
Arkadyi Gukasian.

Minister Rupel said the OSCE welcomed close co-operation with the
Armenian authorities on a number of issues, from legislative reform
to the Police Assistance Programme and the project to dispose of the
rocket fuel component known as “Melange.”

The Chairman-in-Office was also encouraged by progress on
constitutional reform in Armenia.

“The OSCE welcomes the fact that long-term work has resulted in the
recent draft of constitutional amendments, which was revised based
on the comments of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe,”
he said.

The Chairman-in-Office stressed the need for broader public involvement
in the process of constitutional reform in order to prepare for a
successful referendum. He also underlined the importance of improving
Armenia’s electoral framework.

“The OSCE stresses that political will and implementation in good faith
of the recently amended Electoral Code are the major preconditions
for ensuring genuinely democratic, free and fair elections,” Minister
Rupel said.

During his meeting with Foreign Minister Oskanian, the
Chairman-in-Office also discussed OSCE reform. “We count on Armenia’s
active participation in the discussion on reform of OSCE, by which
we wish to strengthen its effectiveness,” Minister Rupel said.