“We fully recognize the Minsk Group format, but on the other hand the Parliamentary Assembly as an independent body has its sovereignty in decision-making rights”, – was the answer of the PACE President Anne Brasseur to the question of Aravot.am whether the fact that the PACE initiated a report on Nagorno-Karabakh does not mean that the PACE contradicts itself, for the PACE has stated repeatedly that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement format belongs to the Minsk Group. During the interview with Ms. Brasseur we reminded her that the report was criticized in the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, for example, the Presidential Spokesman of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh Davit Babayan noted that if the British MP of the PACE Robert Walter, who developed the report, does not change the title of the report, he’d better not visit Nagorno-Karabakh, to which Ms. Brasseur answered: “The subject of Karabakh conflict is of great concern for us. A reasonable solution has to be found. The decision on preparing a report was adopted by democratic vote. Thus, we have to respect the decisions, which are taken by the majority”.
Anne Brasseur assured that every effort will be made to have a balanced report, that all parties involved in the conflict will be listened to, and the report “will find solutions and not create problems”. Addressing the issue of changing the title of the report, Ms. Brasseur said: “The title of the report is the Committee’s decision, it is not up to the rapporteur”. As we have informed earlier, during a press-conference at the RA National Assembly Anne Brasseur avoided using the phrase Armenian Genocide and qualified it as “mass massacres”. We asked whether it was possible that she would revise her expressions on the subject of the Armenian Genocide, especially when many states in the world, including the European People’s Party represented at the PACE, recognized the Armenian Genocide. The PACE President answered in particular, “No need to point out only good or only bad things about the EPP, for example, the title of the report on Nagorno-Karabakh in relation to occupied territory came from the EPP”. With reference to the issue of avoiding the usage of the word genocide Ms. Brasseur said, “I have the mandate to speak on behalf of the PACE. And the PACE has not recognized the massacre as being as Genocide and that’s why I cannot speak about genocide. I do not have the mandate and that’s why I did not use the word genocide, but used the term massacre or mass murder. And it is unacceptable what has happened and is condemned and we have really to remember to avoid such atrocities are happening again”.
To our question whether besides the general calls to both countries will the PACE be taking other measures to mandate Azerbaijan implement its international commitments, especially, when violations of the ceasefire regime have become more often and the number of victims at the border has increased since the beginning of the year Anne Brasseur answered, “What happened on the border of the conflict area is inacceptable firstly for the people who just live there. Their lives are threatened. We are concerned with this. Violence is inacceptable, it cannot be resolution to any conflict. The decisions of the Minsk group have to be respected, the ceasefire has to be respected”. To our observation whether accusations of the Turkish President Erdogan in relation to Pope and his statement about Armenian Genocide are acceptable Anne Brasseur answered, “I have great honor towards the Pope, he is a moral authority. Even if you don’t agree with the Pope and personally I don’t agree with some statements he made, you have to respect what he says. As the leader of the Catholic church he can express his views and that has to be respected even if you don’t agree with it.” We inquired Ann Brasseur about the guarantees of PACE’s being impartial in its decisions taking into the consideration that Turkey will be becoming the main investor in the PACE and as it is said the one who pays can also order the music. Ms Brasseur answered, “That is a matter of justice and equality. Here we look at the representation of country. It’s linked to the population and Turkey has become a huge country with its demographic development, which is huge, but they are represented in the PACE like a middle-sized country. I come from a country, which is one of the smallest. So if you look at the Committee of Ministers it’s not the biggest countries that have more to say than smaller countries. There you have to speak with arguments and not about money”. Ms Brasseur also informed that Turkish will be included among PACE working languages alngside with Russian, German and Italian.
Tatev HARUTYUYNYAN
