PACE COMMISSION TO VISIT NAGORNY KARABAKH IN OCTOBER

RIA Novosti, Russia
June 29, 2006

YEREVAN, June 29 (RIA Novosti) – Armenian and Azerbaijani officials
have agreed to let a special commission of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe on Nagorny Karabakh visit the conflict zone
in October.

Committee head Lord Russell Johnston proposed during a meeting in
Strasbourg that a seminar be held for parliamentary members from the
warring sides, an Armenian parliamentary source said.

PACE approved the structure of the commission, which will include
heads of the Armenian and Azerbaijani delegations to PACE, one
representative of the opposition from each side, rapporteurs of the
Council of Europe monitoring group on the countries, Lord Russell
Johnston, and a rapporteur on missing persons.

The conflict between the former Soviet republics of Armenia and
Azerbaijan over Nagorny Karabakh, an Azerbaijani region with a largely
Armenian population, first erupted in 1988, when the region claimed
independence from Azerbaijan to join Armenia.

Over 30,000 people were reported dead on both sides between 1988
and 1994, and over 100 others died after a ceasefire was concluded
in 1994, leaving Nagorno-Karabakh in Armenian hands, but tensions
between Azerbaijan and Armenia have persisted.