ARMENIA PARLIAMENT URGES GOVT TO MORE ACTIVELY SETTLE KARABAKH ISSUE

ITAR-TASS News Agency
April 30 2008
Russia

YEREVAN, April 30 (Itar-Tass) – The Armenian National Assembly
(parliament) has proposed to the republic’s president and government
"to make the Armenian policy more active in the settlement of the
Karabakh problem," it is said in a statement "regarding the settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem" adopted by the Armenian parliament
on Tuesday.

The authorities have been proposed "to work out – within the
international law framework – the legal foundations" that "in the
event of the military aggression of Azerbaijan or the use of other
force methods by it, will give Armenia a possibility to ensure,
as the guarantor of security of Nagorno-Karabakh, full-fledged
security and defence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR)." They
should also ensure more effective cooperation between Armenian and
Nagorno-Karabakh, it is noted in the statement.

The Armenian parliament called for "the intensification and expansion
of efforts to work out and take measures aimed at full informing of
the international public about the Nagorno-Karabakh problem." With this
end in view it is proposed to "to attract the all-Armenian potential,
possibilities and means" of the numerous foreign Armenian diaspora.

It is proposed "to prepare alternative possibilities of international
recognition of the NKR" in the event of the failure of talks within
the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorno-Karabakh.

Finally, the deputies believe that with a view to ensuring
effectiveness of the talks it is necessary to exert all efforts for
the restoration of the full-fledged membership in this process of NKR
representatives as an internationally recognised side of the conflict.

The Armenian parliament expressed concern over the recent events
around the Nagorno-Karabakh problem settlement. "The Azerbaijani side
is taking uncovered steps aimed at the disruption of the negotiating
process around the peaceful settlement, at reaching the military
superiority by means of financial flows from the oil sale, at the
settlement of the problem by war," says the statement.

The statement was adopted by 96 deputies, three voted against and two
parliamentarians abstained. Representatives of the opposition party
Heritage voted against. Its leader – the first Foreign Minister of
independent Armenia, Raffi Ovanesyan, on Monday put forward a bill
on the recognition of the NKR by Armenia. However, the parliament
has not put the bill on the agenda yet.

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisyan said earlier that Azerbaijan must
understand a simple fact that the existence of the unrecognised
Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh is irreversible." He stressed the
need to "create conditions for a peaceful and fair settlement of
the problem." In his words, Armenia constantly does its utmost to
support Karabakh’s right for self-determination and is a guarantor
of security for its population.

"We are seeking to settle the Karabakh problem by peaceful methods,"
the president said, adding, "We do not want a war." Sarkisyan attaches
big importance to interaction with ethnic Armenians living abroad.

"Thanks to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, our compatriots living across
the world will always feel taken care of even if a special agency for
contacts with compatriots is created," the president said. According to
him, the problem of international recognition of genocide of Armenians
in 1915 still remains on the Foreign Ministry’s agenda.