AZERBAIJAN RUINS THE VISIT OF PACE SPEAKER TO THE REGION
Hayots Ashkharh Daily
Aug 31 2007
Armenia
Taking into consideration the fact that during the recent two days
different articles appeared in the press regarding the failure of
the visit of PACE speaker Edward O’Hara to the region, aimed at the
study of the South Caucasian cultural heritage, as well as the fake
clarifications that appear in Azerbaijani press, Armenian National
Assembly considers necessary to introduce the reality.
Armenian delegation in PACE was the initiator of this visit,
linked to the annihilation of Armenian khachcars (cross-stone) in
Nakhichevan. Later PACE committee accepted the proposal of Azerbaijani
side to visit the region.
PACE speaker Edward O’Hara’s visit to the region, aimed at the study
of the issue of the protection of cultural heritage was envisaged
years ago but it has been postponed for different reasons.
The visit that was to start on August 29, from Azerbaijan, has been
prepared for two months; the program of the visit has been elaborated,
the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh expressed
readiness to show all kinds of assistance for the organization of
the visit. Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia have sent the list of the
monuments to be studied in the three countries of South Caucasus, the
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, and Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan.
The speakers have already chosen the monuments to be studied and August
29 visit was to take place. According to the preliminary agreement
the programs of the visit were to be sent to the Republic of Armenia
and the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh on August 28, at midday. But
before that we got the letter from the Secretary of the Committee,
which ran that the visit is canceled.
The reason is one: on August 28 leader of Azerbaijani delegation
in PACE announced that the speaker must visit Nagorno Karabakh via
Azerbaijan, whereas before that, all the details have been clarified
through the representative of Nagorno Karabakh in Armenia. Armenian
National Assembly was to show transportation and other assistances
to the speaker during his visit.
By laying down conditions to the speaker, at the last moment,
Azerbaijan, in fact ruined the visit and the false information in
Azerbaijani press saying that it was a regular delay, has nothing to
do with the reality.
Another interesting circumstance is, that despite the efforts of
Azerbaijani delegations in different international organization
to spread misinformation saying that Armenians are annihilating
Azerbaijani monuments, PACE speaker expressed a desire to see only one
mosque in Yerevan, which is not Azerbaijani but Persian "Blue" mosque.
On August 29, PACE General Secretary Mateo Sorinas informed Speaker
of Armenian National Assembly Tigran Torosyan, that Mr.
O’Hara’s visit is canceled. Whereas he underscored two reasons, from
which one is the issue of the entry to Nagorno Karabakh, something
that Azerbaijan announced on August 28.
It is obvious that Azerbaijanis did their best to hamper the visit of
the speaker to the region. Because it was going to reveal the fact that
various Armenian monuments have been and are still being annihilated
both in the Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan and Azerbaijan and that
the information saying that Armenians are destroying "Azerbaijani"
monuments was simply fake.
Armenian National Assembly has expressed readiness to assist the
visit of PACE speaker to the region any time.
The fate of the visit will be decided during the sitting of PACE
committee.
NA Public Relation’s Department