Pan Armenian News
ARMENIA FOR NORMAL RELATIONS BETWEEN COUNTRIES OF REGION
24.05.2005 05:46
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ May 23 the Armenian delegation headed by Chairman of the
National Assembly Artur Baghdasarian arrived in Belgium within an official
visit to the Benelux countries, reported the Press Service of the Armenian
Parliament. The delegation included representatives of the main political
forces of the country, including the three parties forming the ruling
coalition, as well as Justice opposition bloc. In the course of the meeting
with representatives of EU diplomatic missions, including those of Turkey,
Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria and others, NGOs, as well as Eurasia
Foundation, the Open Society Institute and a number of European structures
urgent topics of the Armenian political agenda were touched upon. The
parties discussed the democratization of the country, the problem of Nagorno
Karabakh settlement and relations with Turkey. `Armenia comes for
establishment of normal relations between all countries of the region,’ the
Armenian Speaker said, when addressing those present. `The creation of an
Interparliamentary Assembly of the South Caucasus based on the already
existing South Caucasian Parliamentary Initiative can become the
contribution of the Parliaments into that affair,’ Baghdasarian continued,
adding that the formation of a structure of the kind will allow arrangement
of a dialogue over establishment and development of political, economic,
scientific and cultural ties. Touching upon the Nagorno Karabakh problem he
noted that Armenia comes for its peaceful solution via talks and
compromises. In his turn member of Justice opposition faction Aram G.
Sargsian stated that `the people of Nagorno Karabakh has started struggle to
attain independence from Azerbaijan and used all rights corresponding to
international norms to that end, thus another status is not acceptable to
it.’ `Compromises are indispensable, as many new problems appeared during
the process – there was a war, problems of refugees, territories appeared –
mutual concessions are possible in that circle.’ In the course of the
meeting a representative of the Turkish Embassy in the EU tries to connect
the issue of opening the Armenian-Turkish border with `Armenia not
recognizing the borders of Turkey and touching upon the topic of Western
Armenia in its Constitution.’ The Armenian Speaker emphasized that there is
no mentioning of that in the Armenian Constitution and advised that the
Turkish diplomat study the Organic Law of Armenia by means of the Internet.
`We consider that the relations with Turkey should be normalized without
preconditions and we should live in peace, face the future and take care of
our descendants,’ Baghdasarian noted adding that Armenia is not against
Turkey’s accession to the EU, however it comes against application of double
standards, Regnum news agency reported.