Report on Armenia’s PACE commitments discussed

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 24 2007

[ 24 Jan. 2007 14:02 ]

The discussion of 11117th report on honoring of obligations and
commitments was discussed in the plenary meeting of PACE yesterday,
APA correspondent in Strasbourg reports.

The report worked out by PACE Monitoring Committee co-rapporteurs on
Armenian Georges Colombier, Mikko Elo was discussed in the meeting.

35 parliamentarians took part in the discussion as it was 30 minutes
left to the end of the meeting. Georges Colombier began his statement
with the positive points of the ongoing processes in Armenia. He
noted that necessary conditions were created for Armenia to fulfill
its commitments in the field of human rights, democratic development
and legislation. He highly estimated holding elections to Irevan
Major’s Office, the possibility of appealing to Constitution Court
and establishment of Commissioner Institute on Human Rights. The
co-rapporteur also noted that there are problems in election system and
forging of the results of referendums on constitution. He mentioned
that there is no mechanism in the country to punish the ones who
falsify the results of the elections and it put the results under
doubt. Generally, French parliamentarian did not utter any serious
shortcomings. Other co-rapporteur Mikko Elo made his speech wholly on
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. He estimated the conflict as the biggest
obstacle for the peace and stability in the region.

"But we did not stand on this issue in our report. Sub-committee
on Nagorno Karabakh have assigned on this purpose. The meeting of
the presidents held on November 28 last year justified hopes for the
settlement of the conflict. The settlement of the conflict serves the
interests of both sides. PACE with the assistance of Sub-committee
on Nagorno Karabakh will try to help to negotiations processes. We
will support the continuation of dialogue between the countries on
the level of parliaments as well as with Karabakh people.

As the discussions began late, out of 20 men registered in the
list, 7 made speech. Three of them were parliamentarians of Armenian
Parliament and one was the member of French parliament, pro-armenian
Fransua Roshebloun. Though 5 members of the Azerbaijani delegation
were included in the list, they were not given the floor. Only
Armen Roustamyan, Armenian parliamentarian touched upon Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. He said that Armenia’s position on Nagorno Karabakh
coincides with the commitments presented in the CE documents. He blamed
Azerbaijan for frustrating the process of negotiations and mentioned
the importance of Nagorno Karabakh’s participation in the dialogues.

"Azerbaijan’s position on this problem is obvious, they want to
possess Karabakh, which was once presented to them by Stalin," he said.

Other speeches were mostly devoted to the processes ongoing in
Armenia. Armenia proposed only three amendments to the resolution
and these amendments were accepted. The draft resolution was approved
32-1 with 2 abstaining. APA correspondent in Strasbourg said that the
members of the Azerbaijani delegation were generally dissatisfied
with the discussions. Member of the Azerbaijani delegation Rafael
Huseynov considers that the meeting more resembled meeting of Armenian
parliament, rather than of the PACE.

"The time, content and process of the discussions were organized so
that it more resembled the meeting of Armenian parliament. No one
from the Azerbaijani delegation was given the floor. I am sure that
it happened under the influence of Armenian lobby and forces connected
with the Armenian delegation. Chronologically, we were to make speech
first. Two days before the assembly I looked through the list in the
APCE secretariat, my name was the first in the list. But later, only
Roustamyan, Torosyan, Demirchiyan and pro-armenian parliamentarian
from France Roshebloun made speech. It was planned. I openly accuse
the CE secretariat and we will present written accusation to the
CE. Besides, only 40 minutes were allotted for the discussion of
the very important issue. Actually, the meeting resembled Armenian
parliament and Armenia’s commitments were not discussed, but the
discussions were imitated," he said. /APA/