“There was nothing anti-Armenian from the Azerbaijani delegation. On the first day, in his opening speech, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, delivered a speech. He spoke about Armenia for a long time and said what is always said about, the refugees, and “occupied territories”. This time, there was something new, that Armenia is formed on the territory of Azerbaijan,” said the PAP party MP Stepan Margaryan, in the conversation with Aravot.am. Note that the 23th annual session of OSCE held in Baku, the activities of which commenced yesterday, was attended by the RA NA MPs. The three main committee sessions were held parallel to the plenary sessions. The Head of the Armenian Delegation for this session and the NA RPA faction MP, Artashes Geghamyan, was representing Armenian in the Committee for Political and Security Affairs. The PAP faction MP, Stepan Margaryan, was representing Armenia in the Committee for Economy, Environment and Technology Affairs, and the NA ARF Secretary General, Aghvan Vardanyan, was representing Armenia in the Committee for Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs. Mr. Margaryan is convinced that after Aliyev’s speech, when he had talked with delegates from different countries, all of them described it as a “primitive speech.” Our delegates just did not have the opportunity to counter Ilham Aliyev. The working format did not allow. But Stepan Margaryan said that in direct contacts and different interviews, they have given an answer to Aliyev. “For instances, I have said that I am sure that there was serious historians in Azerbaijan and based on their opinion, and not based on just said statement. Although, I’m sure that Ilham Aliyev knows well these historians, and the history, but he said something that no one takes it serious,” said Stepan Margaryan adding that Aliyev’s statements did not have any effect. Azerbaijani media conveyed the speeches and the observations by the Head of the Armenian delegation, Artashes Geghamyan, which already deserved criticism in Armenia. “RPA, don’t you feel shame about whom and where you are sending to represent Armenia. He is representing the interests of Moscow there and no one’s else… the Eurasian “peace crow” in Baku. – dreams that the borders in the Caucasus disappear, that he feels comfortable in Baku, and Azerbaijanis feel easy at home in Yerevan /pay attention on difference in usage of words/, – applauds the statements by the U.S., Russian and French presidents, L’Aquila, Muskoka and other, which, you remember, assumed return of NKR “around occupied” territories, – wishes to see Azerbaijan in the Eurasian Union, in addition to Armenia. Let him be hosted in Baku and feel comfortable … ,” such a Facebook post was made by Stepan Safaryan. We asked Stepan Margaryan what he thinks about the statements of his colleague, “It would be hard for me to give an opinion about Geghamyan’s speech, we are working for various Committees. The works last quite long and we still have not managed to summarize the works among each other,” said Stepan Margaryan adding that the committee, in which he was involved, today concluded its works by adopting various resolutions on food security, use of water resources, the collaboration between the states on these issues and so on. Aravot.am has failed to establish a contact with Artashes Geghamyan.
Nelly GRIGORYAN
