LENMARKER: “EU’S IDEOLOGY IS OPEN BORDERS”
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 6 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Artur Baghdasarian, RA NA Speaker,
and Goran Lenmarker, OSCE PA Special Representative on Nagorno Karabakh
issue, attached importance to peaceful settlement of conflicts and
extension of democracy in the South Caucasian region at the October
5 meeting mentioning that it will enable the regional countries to
develop with a prospect of integration to the large European family.
RA NA Speaker informed his interlocutor about the process of
constitutional reforms taking place in Armenia, after the successful
end of which the other laws will be also reformed and will be brought
in correspondence with the European standards. Both of them attached
importance to the integration of the whole society to the process of
constitutional reforms.
In connection with the current stage of Nagorno Karabakh peaceful
settlement Goran Lenmarker mentioned that the report on this issue
made by him in Washington was entitled “Golden Chance” and it is very
symbolic as he really considers that a golden chance is created for
both Azerbaijan and Armenia for overcoming the conflict and achieving
progress. Artur Baghdasarian noted that Armenia has always hold the
position of peaceful settlement of the conflict and expressed hope
that the problem will get a peaceful and fair solution.
Issues concerning establishment of Armenian-Swedish interparliamentary
contacts were also discussed at the meeting.
As Noyan Tapan was informed by RA NA Public Relations Department,
the same day the delegation led by Goran Lenmarker met with the
members of OSCE PA Armenian delegation at the NA.
Vahan Hovhannisian, head of OSCE PA Armenian delegation, NA
Vice-Speaker, noted that Lenmarker’s report on Nagorno Karabakh
issue made at OSCE PA Washington session provoked serious interest in
Armenian and Azeri societies and it was noticeable that report’s brave
proposals corresponding to the changes of time on the one hand were
attractive an on the other hand gave rise to additional caution, which
can be considered a high estimation for the report. As a result of the
propaganda the report had rather a positive reaction in the Armenian
society. All the political forces in Armenia realize the necessity of
bilateral concessions in the issue of final solution of the Karabakh
problem. It’s difficult to find a political force ready for mutual
concessions in Azerbaijan, so, in Vahan Hovhannisian’s affirmation,
searching for such a political force within the framework of OSCE
PA can bring positive results. NA Vice-Speaker highly estimated the
direct negotiations held between Armenian and Azeri delegations in
Brussels, a well as the meeting of the delegations and OSCE Minsk Group
representatives in Washington on Lenmarker’s initiative. An opinion
was expressed that the work in this direction must be continual.
Vahan Hovhannisian suggested that taking as a basis Goran Lenmarker’s
studies, an ad hoc working group be created. The working group will
be headed by Goran Lenmarker and will involve Armenian and Azeri
sides, as well as OSCE PA Deputies well-aware of the conflict. The
group will work at a joint resolution. He suggested that the issue
about coming to agreement on creating a joint resolution be discussed
with participation of the 2 delegations on the eve of Vienna summit,
which can be considered the first coordinated step by EU new neighbors.
Lenmarker was pleased to accept Vahan Hovhannisian’s proposals and
noted that this golden chance must be taken by the parliamentarians.
As regards Turkey-EU relations, in Goran Lenmarker’s estimation,
Turkey-EU negotiations will be positive for Armenia, too. And in
connection with Armenia’s blockade by Turkey Lenmarker gave assurance
that Turkey must open the borders, as European Union’s ideology is
open borders.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress