“At this point, I will find it difficult to say what will follow, but one thing is clear: if the PACE continues preparing a report in such wording, it will definitely has its negative impact on the OSCE Minsk Group peace process,” said Chairman of RA NA Foreign Affairs Committee, Artak Zakaryan, in the conversation with “Aravot”, referring to preparation of the report in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly entitled “Rise in Violence in Karabakh and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan”. He recalls that the Minsk Group has repeatedly called on international organizations to be consistent with their positions: the Minsk Group peace process and the wording thereof.
Note that the demand by Armenian delegation to PACE on not preparing a report on Karabakh was put to voting on September 29 and was rejected by 41 pros and 74 cons. Our delegation was trying to prevent the decision on the report. The ANC rep in the membership of Armenian delegation to PACE, Levon Zurabyan, had sent a letter in advance to ALDE Group members. The attempt failed. The Armenian delegation to PACE announced that it will not cooperate and participate in the preparation of the report. The Armenian delegates left the PACE hall. “PACE, unfortunately, yielded more to the lobbying activities of Azerbaijan and caviar diplomacy rather than driven by balanced approaches. Of course, it is not about all MPs. I do not think that it may have a positive or effective impact on parliamentary cooperation in the future,” said our interlocutor. To the observation of whether until the termination of the relationship, Artak Zakaryan reiterated that at this moment it would be hard for him to make everything clear, because much depends on further approaches and displays of the Assembly. One thing, however, according to the MP, is clear: PACE should not yield to the Azerbaijani approaches, and it has nothing to do with Armenia’s adopted foreign policy or integration prospects.
N. GRIGORYAN
