Armenian National Committee of Canada
Comité National Arménien du Canada
130 Albert St., Suite/Bureau 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel./Tél. (613) 235-2622 Fax/Téléc. (613) 238-2622
E-mail/courriel:national.office@anc-canad a.com
PRESS RELEASE
September 23, 2008
Contact: Roupen Kouyoumjian
Armenia and ANCC Attend OSCE PA Fall Meeting in Toronto
TORONTO — Four delegates from Armenia attend the Organization of
Organizations for Security Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary
Assembly’s three-day fall meeting on Sep. 18 here. The Armenian
delegation consisted of head of delegation Aram Safarian, Prosperous
Armenia; Khachig Harutiunian, Orinats Yergir; Larisa Alaverdian,
Heritage; and Anahit Gasparyan, head of international organizations
department at the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia.
Aris Babikian attended the meeting as an observer on behalf of the
Armenian National Committee of Canada.
The morning session on Sept. 18 was devoted to `The OSCE Mediterranean
Dimension’, while the afternoon session focused on `OSCE in an Open
World: Trade, Security, and Migration’. Keynote speaker Gareth Evans,
president and chief executive of the International Group and the
former foreign minister of Australia, analyzed the current and future
security role of the OSCE and NATO’s role in Europe.
Within the context of the OSCE ODIHR election monitoring missions
around Europe, Evans made an ambiguous remark on the presidential
election in Armenia. He said, `While the mission in Macedonia played a
very helpful role, there was the positive assessment of Armenian
presidential elections in February 2008 that in fact were fraught with
problems and led to fatal clashes between police and demonstrators.’
During a question-and-answer session, Armenian representative
Alaverdian challenged the Evans’ statement and asked more
clarification.
Evans also labeled Russia as an aggressor and occupier in the recent
South Ossetia-Georgia conflict. His remarks launched a wave of anger
from the Russian delegation. During the question-and-answer session,
the head of the Russian delegation, Alexander Kozlovskiy, attacked
Evans and criticized the OSCE Secretariat for inviting Evans. He
called the former Australian foreign minister’s speech and the western
media’s approach to the South Ossetia-Georgia crisis as `information
terrorism’. Kozlovsky also said that what had happened was an insult
to Russia. "We [OSCE] do not need lecturers to come and teach us about
our security,’ he added. Kozlovskiy then presented a historical
prospective of the crisis.
A Greek delegate also raised his objection by saying, `We are not in a
classroom. We are a political body and speakers should behave
accordingly.’
In the Mediterranean Forum session, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings made
the following supportive statement on Turkey and its membership in
EU. `I hope that Turkey is given fair and expeditious consideration
for accession to the European Union.’
The second day was the highlights of the meeting. While the morning
session was devoted to the topic of `Economic/Environmental
Dimensions’, the afternoon session was about Georgia-Russia conflict.
Goren Lennmarker, special envoy for the situation in Georgia,
presented a report in which he divided his speech into three sections:
What Happened; the cost of the conflict; the future.
He called on `the three countries of the Caucasus to come together to
help each other, cooperate and shape their future.’ He also said that
it is time to solve the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan. He added that in the next meeting, to be held after the
presidential elections in Azerbaijan, he would have a detailed report.
Eka Tkeshelashvili, foreign minister of Georgia, presented her
country’s case. She said, `The frozen conflicts concept is wrong and
dangerous’. She said that the recent conflict in Georgia was
premeditated by Russia. `International engagement should be more
straightforward. This is military invasion/ethnic cleansing. Russia
should restore its image as a reliable partner. NATO should be
expanded bringing Georgia closer to the European Union.’ She also
called for an `international investigation mission.
Vitaly Churkin, Russia’s ambassador to the UN, presented Russia’s
case. He went through a long list of incidents which demonstrated
Georgians had frequently broken international law. The annulment of
the Ossetians and Abkhazians self-autonomy which they had enjoyed
under the Soviet Union and the declaration of `Georgia for Georgians’
was one example, he said, of Georgia’s breaking of international
law. He cited an article in the UN Charter which demonstrated
Ossetians and Abkhazians are entitled to break away from Georgia. To
underline Georgia’s aggressive intentions, he pointed out that Georgia
had increased its military budget 50 fold. Churkin asked NATO member
countries whether they were "willing to rescue your country’s security
for the sake of Saakashvili"
Afterwards some 50 delegates took to the floor and made
statements. Delegate said that use of force by Russia was
disproportionate. They said "This is a new Iron Curtain. Russia is
redrawing the borders of Europe. Georgia’s territorial integrity
should be supported. Russia is unreliable and unpredictable. Russia
broke the rule of law. This is state annexation."
Many delegates called for an international observers and investigation
team to go to Georgia to investigate the conflict and its
aftermath. They also called for dialogue and cooperation.
The Russian and Georgian delegations exchanged frequent insults and
were often highly emotional.
Aram Safaryan of Armenia said that we [Armenia] believe in the OSCE
peaceful efforts. He said, "The Russian Federation is our strategic
ally and the largest trade partner. We look with respect to Russia’s
role and interest in the Caucasus. Georgia is our traditional
neighbor. Some 70% of our imports come through Georgia. During the
five days of the conflict Armenia lost $682 million. Armenia doesn’t
look favorably to big power clashes in the Caucasus. Safaryan called
for balanced relationship between Russia, the United States and the
European Union. He said his government supported Turkey’s `Caucasus
Platform’ proposal and positively assessed Gul’s visit to Armenia. He
called for the right of self-determination for all the nations of the
Caucasus.
Larisa Alaverdyan, called for an international conference to discuss
the issues of the over 100 nations that make up the Caucasus. She
called for the Caucasian nations to make their contribution to the
region and to speak their mind.
The chairwoman of the Azeri delegation supported the territorial
integrity of Georgia. She said Azerbaijan rejected Georgian
separatism, considered Abdullah Gul’s visit to Armenia a positive
step, and called for the establishment and safeguards for the energy
transportation routes. She said that tension and recriminations do not
help the situation and called for dialogue. She then asked the OSCE to
turn its attention to solving the problem in Nagorno-Karapagh problem
"where [OSCE] did not keep its commitment."
The head of the Turkish delegation called for peace and stability in
the region. He said nations had a moral responsibility to turn the
region to the benefit the people. The Turkish delegate said the
recognition by Russia of Abkhazia and Ossetia is an alarming
development and would have negative effect on the resolution of the
conflict.
On the third and last day of the gathering, the agenda was titled
`Human Dimension’ on role of OSCE ODIHR in promoting human rights,
democracy, migration and integration of legal and illegal migrants.
Alaverdyan of Armenia mentioned the non cooperation of neighboring
countries in the migrants issue. She mentioned Turkey’s non-responsive
attitude to cooperating on the issue of Armenian migrants to Turkey
and in protecting their rights.
The ANCC representative had many opportunities to meet the various
delegates and OSCE PA leaders, discuss with them the Nagaorno Khrabagh
conflict and give them copies of Patrick Wilson Gore`s book ` Tis Some
Poor Fellow’s Skull’ on Nagorno-Karapagh.
*****
The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of
issues.
——
Le CNAC est l’organisation politique canadienne-arménienne la plus
large et influentielle. Collaborant avec une série de bureaux,
chapitres et souteneurs à travers le Canada et des organisations
affiliées à travers le monde, le CNAC s’occupe activement des
inquiétudes de la communauté canadienne-arménienne.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress