KARABAKH PROBLEM: PROSPECTS OF SETTLEMENT
Nvard Ohanjanyan

Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
25 April 2006

On April 21 the NKR National Assembly Committee of External Relations
kicked off the parliamentary hearings on the topic “Karabakh Problem:
Prospects of Settlement.” In the debates, which took place at the
National Assembly of NKR, the parliamentary delegation of Armenia
headed by Armen Rustamian, Chair of the Committee of External
Relations, NKR members of parliament and government officials,
representatives of NGOs and political parties of NKR, experts and
guests participated. The debates were conducted by Vahram Atanessian,
Chair of the Committee of External Relations of the NKR National
Assembly. In his address Speaker Ashot Ghulian emphasized that
that the parliamentary debates show that the issue of Karabakh is a
national problem, and called the members of parliaments of NKR and
Armenia and the NKR political parties to contribute to the process
of fair settlement of the Karabakh issue. Foreign Minister of NKR
Georgy Petrossian gave an overview of the Karabakh issue. The chair
of the Committee of External Relations of the National Assembly of
Armenia Armen Rustamian emphasized two important preconditions in
shifting the tactics into diplomacy: to carry on the peace talks
with Azerbaijan on a due level, and to define the status of Nagorno
Karabakh. Next spoke Armen Sargissian, the head of the parliamentary
group ARF-Movement 88, Arthur Tovmassian, member of the Hayrenik
faction, Hrant Melkumian, leader of the NKR Communist Party, Gegham
Baghdassarian, member of the political party Movement 88. Although
the speeches were definitely different, they had several points
in common, namely the full engagement of NKR in the settlement of
Karabakh, condemnation of Azerbaijan as an aggressor and recognition
of the right for self-determination of the people of Karabakh by the
international community. The members of parliament asked questions,
then the members of the Committee of External Relations of the National
Assembly of Armenia, NKR members of parliament, representatives of
political parties and NGOs, and NKR deputy speaker Rudik Hyununts
spoke. In conclusion Vahram Atanessian, Chair of the NKR Committee
of External Relations, introduced the document that will be submitted
to the relevant international organizations.