HERITAGE PARTY BELIEVES CHANGES IN ARMENIA’S FOREIGN POLICY IMPORTANT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
17.02.2010 17:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Karabakh issue can’t be resolved until it’s handled
from legal viewpoint, according to Heritage parliamentary group
secretary Larisa Alaverdyan.

At news conference in Yerevan, Mrs. Alaverdyan welcomed RA Foreign
Minister’s statement where he raised the issue of Martakert, Martuni
and Shahumyan regions. "It’s important that the Foreign Minister’s
statement will spur further actions," she said.

Referring to RA President’s speech in Chatham House, Heritage
parliamentary group secretary noted that only changes in foreign
policy of Armenia can prove its true meaning. "During his presidency,
Robert Kocharian made a brilliant speech on Artsakh in Strasburg. And
Madrid Principles were concluded after that speech," she emphasized.

Larisa Alaverdyan considers February 16 meeting between NKR President
Bako Sahakyan and OSCE Chairman a step forward towards Artsakh’s
involvement in negotiations.

Commenting on the possibility of ratification of Armenia-Turkey
Protocols in the RA NA, she noted that instead of suggesting
reservations, Heritage will submit a draft resolution on withdrawal
from Protocols’ ratification.

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out in
1988, as result of the ethnic cleansing the latter launched in the
final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from
1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994
(when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most
of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions is
now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are
holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.

The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of
the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet
Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks
held through Swiss mediation.

On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of
Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country’s Organic Law.