ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN: THERE IS NO PLACE FOR VIOLENCE IN DEMOCRACY
armradio.am
25.03.2008 18:05
Currently there is no doubt among certain political circles of Europe
about the place and role of Armenia and no one doubts that Armenia
is a European country. The consistent policy of European integration
can open a membership perspective for Armenia, future Secretary of
the Presidential Council on National Security, leader of the Ornats
Yerkir Party, Co-Chair of the Caucasus-Caspian Commission Arthur
Baghdasaryan said during the 2008 Armenia-Europe Forum today.
Armenia’s consistent integration with European structures,
according to him, means implementation of large-scale reforms in
different directions – democratic, social, economic – which is also
included in the five-year Action Plan of the European Neighborhood
Policy. According to Arthur Baghdasaryan, the Armenia-EU relations are
entering a new stage: an EU delegation works in Armenia, an Ambassador
has been appointed, the activity of an independent mission will also
provide an opportunity to deepen Armenia-EU relations in different
directions.
Arthur Baghdasaryan is assured that simultaneously with the development
of democratic institutions, we should pay attention to the freedom of
speech, the plurality of opinions, improvement of the mechanisms of
human rights protection, synchronization of the national legislation
with European standards.
According to Arthur Baghdasaryan, the difficulties of the transition
period must be understood, as well. "We must move along the path of
deepening the public political dialogue not only with neighbors, but
also inside the country. In general, it should be an axiom that there
is no place for violence in democracy. There is place for dialogue.
One of the most important issues in the South Caucasus is the
resolution of the Karabakh conflict. According to Arthur Baghdasaryan,
connected with the domestic political situation in Armenia, Azerbaijan
assumed a non-constructive position, first by violating the cease-fire
regime and then implementing a policy of aggressive propaganda, the
policy of reviewing the Minsk Group format, the attempts to transfer
the issue to other structures.
"We resolutely defend the continuousness of the negotiation process
in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. It is the format, in the
framework of which we must make consistent efforts for the peaceful
resolution of the issue. Those familiar with the Nagorno Karabakh
issue know that the issue is a very gentle one, and the Minsk Group
has been addressing it for many years. It’s very important to continue
the negotiations in the same format to be able to find a peaceful and
deserved solution targeted at future," Arthur Baghdasaryan declared. In
his words, Nagorno Karabakh has been building independent statehood
for a while, all legal and political institutions are being formed,
and one should recognize that the negotiations should be conducted,
taking into consideration the political realities, having the mutual
concessions in the basis of negotiations.