TIGRAN TOROSIAN ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO TWO CIRCUMSTANCES AMONG PARIS
DISCUSSIONS ON NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUE
PARIS, SEPTEMBER 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Tigran Torosian,
the NA Deputy Chairman, the head of the Armenian delegation at the
PACE, attaches importance to two circumstances at the September 12
hearings in Paris concerning the Nagorno Karabakh issue within the
framework of the Ad hoc Committee created for using the PACE 14-16
resolution. As Tigran Torosian informed the NA Public Relations
Department, the first of them is that in such structures the Minsk
Group Co-Chairmen and not only they but the Ad hoc Committee members
as well have already started to speak about the necessity of using the
principle of nations’ self-determination. The second important
circumstance is that the opinion that mandates of the Council of
Europe and the OSCE must be separated was predominant.
At the hearings, Denis Samouth, the representative of the British NGO
Links, who is famous among the society for his activity within the
parliamentary initiative of the South Caucasus as well, presented a
historic review concerning the pre-history of the conflict and the
present state. According to Tigran Torosian, the report was
interesting and balanced and creating an objective idea about the
conflict.
Varuzhan Nersisian, the head of the OSCE Department of the RA Foreign
Ministry, presented positions of Armenia concerning the process and
prospects of settlement. Araz Azimov, the Foreign Minister of
Azerbaijan was to do the same, who, however, presented his owm notions
instead of presenting the viewpoint of his country.
Then, OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen Bernard Fassier (France) and Yuri
Merzlyakov (Russia) as well as the representative of Steven Mann (USA)
made speeches. The main idea expressed by the Co-Chairmen was the
following: it’s impossible to give a solution based only on the
principles of territorial entity or nations’ self-determination, both
principles of the Helsinki Agreement should by used: the territorial
entity related to so called “occupied territories,” and the right of
self-determination in the issue relating to the status.
Andrej Kasprczik, the personal representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, and Goran Lenmarker, the special representative on
the Nagorno Karabakh issue of the OSCE Parlaimentary Assembly made
speeches. The latter repeated the ideas of his famous report,
emphasizing the solution of the issue by giving Nagorno Karabakh wide
self-governance in the structure of Azerbaijan.
Heads of delegations of the Minsk Group in the South Caucasus and
other members of the Committee, Heiki Talvitie, the EU special
representative in the South Caucasus made their speeches as
well. Among them, the NA Deputy Chairman pointed out the speech of
Konstantin Kosachev, the head of the RF delegation. The latter
mentioned that conflicts have different reasons and pre-histories and
should have different solutions, at the same time emphasizing that the
Council of Europe shouldn’t duplicate the OSCE activity, and the
solution should take into account both territorial entity and right of
nations to self-determination.
The head of the delegation of Turkey attempted to repeat Azerbaijani
legend concerning 20% of the Azerbaijani territory, but tangled and
then attempted to present other numbers.
The head of the Armenian delegation at the PACE and another Committee
member from Armenia, Shavarsh Kocharian, the representative of the
opposition made speeches from Armenia. Tigran Torosian emphasized that
there are some very important foundamental issues concerning the
problem settlement. The first of them is a clear separation of
differences of mandates by the PACE and, in general, the Council of
Europe and by the OSCE Minsk Group: the Minsk Group should undertake
problems of the conflict settlement, and the CE should undertake
creation of an atmosphere necessary for the problem settlement. This
issue fully meet both CE mandate in general and obligations of Armenia
and Azerbaijan before the Council of Europe. At the same time,
deepening of the European integration in the region is of upmost
importance for securing a peaceful solution of the conflict. It was
mentioned that there should be a clear notion on the fact that it
would be impossible to secure in any way a positive result of that
process without representatives of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
during the settlement process and making decisions. At the same time,
there should be a clear notion on the fact that the solution of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict is impossible without using the principle of
the self-determination of nations. It was specially emphasized that
creation of obseving mechanisms for implementation of proposals of
14-16 resolution is too important in order that it is clear which of
the parties carries out those proposals and which of them neglects
them.
In respond to Azeris’ questions, Shavarsh Kocharian presented numerous
facts concerning the war propaganda, thus, concerning those points
which obviously oppose the spirit of 14-16 resolution.
Few times there were questions relating to settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh problem by the example of Aland Isls. Concerning to this, the
head of the Armenian delegation presented that when Arkadi Ghukasian,
the President of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh was asked such a
question, he clearly answered that just now we are ready to sign an
agreement concerning upmost possible self-governance, only … in the
structure of Finland.
There were numerous questions connected with Azerbaijani approaches,
particularly, concerning increasing of military expenses and martial
statements.
After the discussion, the Committee continued its work. It was decided
that the next meeting will take place in December but before that,
during the the October session, a meeting of delegations of Armenia
and Azerbaijan is necessary for discussing further activity.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress