FORMER VICE SPEAKER OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT: "THE POSITION, THE POWERS HAVE TAKEN IN THE NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUE, CREATES CONCERN"

Today.Az
July 29 2008
Azerbaijan

The situation around Nagorno Karabakh conflict is not in Armenia’s
favor, said Ara Saakyan, former vice speaker of the Armenian
parliament, supporting the National Movement, led by Levon
Ter-Petrosyan, at a press conference on July 28.

As for external challenges, Saakyan noted that there is no progress
in the issue of democratic development and freedom of speech and also
said he does not trust the commission for investigation of March 1-2
events. "The chairman of the commission can not be called neutral as
he has made the statements, which prove his position on these events",
said Saakyan.

As for the external policy of Armenia, the former vice speaker of
the Armenia said "the position the powers have taken in the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, creates concern".

"We see that some agreements, which have not been published yet,
are being attained in the Karabakh conflict. We suppose that the
provisions for us are heavy and are in the framework of Azerbaijani
concept. I read the Azerbaijani mass media, publishing agreements,
according to which Nagorno Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan
and discussing the status of Nagorno Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan",
explained Saakyan.

Leader of the party "Constitutional Law Union" Ike Babukhanyan,
member of the recently founded opposition political association,
which also includes the United Communist Party, Union of National
Self-Determination, Armenian Democratic Party, National-Liberal
party of Armenia and Armenian Christian-Democratic Union, also agreed
with him.

He said the situation around Nagorno Karabakh is not in Armenia’s
favor.

As for the arrests of the activists of Armenian organizations in
the Armenian-settled region of Georgia Samtkhe-Javakheti, he said
it could be another thing to make the Armenian powers anxious,
especially because it occurred in the threshold of the opening of
the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railroad.

Babukhanyan also announced that one of the main problems of Armenia
is a demographic issue. "We do not only lag behind Azerbaijan for
birth rates. 23% of young people at the call-up age are either sick
or unfit", said the party leader.