The
Minister of Foreign Affairs Vardan Oskanian proposes to avoid of raising a question
especially in parliamentary instances. But Azerbaijan doesn’t hide its intention
to discuss the Karabakh issue in the Parliamentary Assemblies of NATO and
OSCE.The vice speaker of Azerbaijan’s Mili Mejlis and the head of the Azerbaijani
delegation in PA of NATO Zijafet Askerov declared that the PACE adopted resolution
on Nagorno-Karabakh consolidated the position of Azerbaijan in PA of NATO. "That
document will stimulate to take a decision on that issue in PA of NATO. The resolution
of PACE is in our hands and I think the PA of NATO must express its attitudes
towards this document."We tried to found out from the head of Armenian
delegation in PA of NATO, the chairman of the Armenian parliament committee on
defense, internal affairs and national security issues Mher Shahgeldian whether
the Azerbaijanis had made arrangements to realize their intention. "If Askerov
says so they have such an intention. But we haven’t got any information yet. And
if they display such an intention it will take long, – Mr. Shahgeldian said. -The
PA of NATO discussed the conflicts of three republics of South Caucasus in its
previous sitting. And I don’t think that they will return to Karabakh issue in
the near future after that report."The head of Armenian delegation in
PA of NATO argued the grounds of his assurance: "NATO has declared that it
won’t be involved in the process of conflicts settlements including the settlement
of Nagorno-Karabakh issue. This was declared during the NATO Secretary General’s
visit to the region. The representative of NATO Secretary General in South Caucasus
has also spoken about it. There is an experimental group of PA of NATO which is
engaged in territorial issues but it avoids of being engaged in conflict issues.
From this standpoint I don’t think NATO will discuss."Our position in
PA of NATO is rather different from other international institutions especially
from parliamentary assemblies. " Today Armenia follows the way of enlarging
collaboration with NATO in the sphere of security, we have produced a project
of individual co-operation and I think myself that the strengthening of co-operation
with NATO and the integration of Armenia to that institution are too important.
But the official standpoint of our country is that Armenia doesn’t express its
initiation to integrate in the military institutions of NATO as Azerbaijan and
Georgia do. There is a difference in our positions,"- Mher Shahgeldian said.
And to our question whether the difference of these orientations will make NATO
to support the Azerbaijanis he answered: " I don’t want to speak about difficulties.
We must work doing our best. We must consider Askerov’s declaration as an impulse
for projecting our further activities."Mher Shahgeldian stressed another
circumstance that Azerbaijan has got an ally like Turkey in this institution.
We noticed "as it was in CoE" and Mr. Shahgeldian said: "There
is a difference here, too. Turkey has the same status in PACE as CoE other member
countries have. Turkey is considered the important military partner of the South-Eastern
stage in NATO and it is one of its oldest members."The Azerbaijanis intend
to raise the question of Armenia’s "occupation policy" in the winter
session of OSCE parliamentary assembly, which is going to be held on 23-24 February
in Vienna. The head of Azerbaijani delegation in PA of OSCE Sattar Safarov declared.
According to him the Azerbaijani deputies intend to make speeches in the sittings
of political, economical and humanitarian committees "On the occasion of
occupation of Azerbaijani territories by the Armenian forces and as a result hundreds
of thousands of people are still displaced and live in miserable conditions".
Safarov has also mentioned: "In contrast to the CoE the decisions are taken
by consensus but in spite of it the Azerbaijanis will do the possible to inform
the world powers about occupation policy of Armenia."Anna
Israelian