OSCE MG Co-Chairs Are Optimistic

THE OSCE MG CO – CHAIRS ARE OPTIMISTIC

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Sept 14 2005

In the course of the session of the PACE temporary commission on
Karabakh issue the OSCE MG Co – Chairs Yuri Merzlyakov and Bernard
Fassier stated an option that would enable to combine the principle
of territorial integrity with the right of the nations to self
determination was outlined in the Karabakh talks.

Head of RA delegation at the PACE, RA NA vice speaker Tigran Torosyan,
a member of the delegation, RA NA deputy Shavarsh Kocharyan and Head
of the RA MFA OSCE Department Varuzhan Nersisyan presented Armenia
at the session. Azeri Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov represented
Azeri party.

In the interview with Haykakan Jamanak newspaper correspondent
(13.09.05) Tigran Torosyan said the Armenian party had managed to
withstand the Azeri party’s attack.

By the way, the PACE former rapporteur on Nagorno Karabakh David
Atkinson said if Azerbaijan tried to unleash military operations
on Karabakh front it would be immediately expelled from the Council
of Europe.

Aravot newspaper (13.09.05) cites the comments made by a member of
the Armenian delegation at the PACE Shavarsh Kocharyan. In his words,
it was noted in the course of the session, “Karabakh conflict does not
find its solution, as each of the conflict sides insists on the one of
the settlement principles”. However, according to the parliamentarian,
the OSCE MG Co – Chairs were optimistic, as they considered an option
combining both principles. “Judging by their utterances, one could
think that speaking about the principle of territorial integrity they
mean the territories, which were not within the NK, but controlled
by Armenian forces. Speaking about another principle of settlement
and conduct of a referendum in NK they mention it should take place
after refugees have returned”, noted Shavarsh Kocharyan. In his words,
representatives of international structures noted the number of the
refugees that should return home would be verified very strictly.

“Armenian party was well prepared for the session”, said Shavarsh
Kocharyan.