“KOCHARYAN WILL NOT RETURN LANDS”, THE OPPOSITION ANNOUNCED IN THE NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

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During the last session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly spring session the Armenian delegates had to counter-attack the Azeri delegation suchlike comments, “We highly appreciate the latest constructive meeting Kocharyan-Aliev where the issue of the return of the 7 territories has actually been solved”.

What is most interesting is that the counter-attacker was not a coalition deputy but the secretary of the opposition party National Unity Alexan Karapetyan. In answer to the “trouble making policy of the Turks” he said that there is not a single arrangement about the return of the territories and it is absolutely excluded. Alexan Karapetyan has made this announcement proceeding not from clear-cut information but from his own conviction, “I am sure that Robert Kocharyan will sooner resign than return any lands”. The head of the delegation Mher Shahgeldyan has informed the Azeri in a more reserved way that there is no such arrangement and absolutely no such approach to that problem.

In the NATO Parliamentary Assembly session the Azeri delegation has made an attempt to discuss the Karabakh conflict from the very beginning, starting from 1988. In answer to that Mher Shahgeldyan said that in that case we must start the discussion from the referendum and not forget about the Baku and Sumgayit massacres. But the PA President has prevented the discussion put forward by the Azeris.

The session has also discussed South Caucasian issues about ethnic minorities, non-governmental organizations, religion and others. By the way, in the report of the main speaker the facts about Armenia were rather violated. Particularly, according to Mher Shahgeldyan, it was announced in the Assembly session that in Armenia the Law on Alternative Military Service has not yet been adopted, and that in Armenia the Church has a special status. But during the session Mher Shahgeldyan has given explanations and informed those present that the information of the Assembly is a result of a misunderstanding.