PACE chairman: "PACE is ready to assist to resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict in the framework of its mission"

"Though PACE has not played a special role in the conflict resolution, it is ready to assist in this issue in the framework of its mission and activity principles and fully supports the approaches of the OSCE MG co-chairs", a source from the public relations department of the Armenian Parliament reports with reference to de Puig.

The PACE chairman confirmed the position of the organization, in line with which the conflict should be settled on the basis of two regulations of the Helsinki Final Act- right of nations for self-determination and principle of territorial integrity, by way of peaceful negotiations in line with international law with any armed settlement ruled out.

According to de Puig, he spoke of the said approach in Baku as well. He confirmed that the demand to execute resolution 1416 which also fixes these principles is still in force.

Speaker Torosyan voiced concerns around Nagorno Karabakh issue. Taking into account that as the PACE chairman must voice his position based on PACE's opinion, Torosyan stressed the commitments, which Armenia and Azerbaijan undertook in 2001 while joininf the Council of Europe, whose execution must be controlled by the rapporteurs of the monitoring group.

"PACE resolution 1416 notes that any territory can separate from the state lawfully on the basis of people's will, that is the national right for self-determination. At the same time, it is noted that no Assembly member-states can not join any country, which is the principle of territorial integrity of the country", reminded Torosyan.

The speaker also noted that the CE Committee of Ministers, which released the document, directly referring to paragraphs 4 anf 8 of the Helsinki Final Act regarding the right of nations for self-determination and territorial integrity of the states, also responded to  the said resolution in 2005.

The parliament chairman reminded that PACE resolution 1316 contained appeal to stop propaganda of hatred, hold joint meetings for discussion of problems.

"However, the resolution was not effective by some unknown reasons. In the result, the PACE rapporteurs, who were too engaged and not familiar with all details and peculiarities of the problem included regulations, going beyond the previous PACE resolution, to the recent resolution on Azerbaijan", reminded Torosyan stressing importance of the execution of resolution 1416 for the conflict settlement.

/Novosti-Armenia/