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OSCE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY DISCUSSES PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT

Politics

- There is now a golden opportunity for a peaceful solution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, based on a win-win concept where both Armenia and Azerbaijan come out better. Armenia and Azerbaijan must intensify the negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh.

Swedish MP Göran Lennmarker, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Special Representative on the Nagorno Karabakh Conflict, today presented his report to Heads of Delegations to the OSCE PA. The Report spells out his ideas on how to promote a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict within the ongoing OSCE Minsk Peace-process.

The conflict between the Armenians and Azerbaijanis over the region of Nagorno Karabakh broke out more than a decade ago, leaving territories occupied and resulting in displaced people living under miserable conditions on both sides. Although a ceasefire was established in 1994, the conflict remains unsolved.

Mr. Lennmarker stresses that "the conflict is not frozen. Several people are killed along the line-of-contact every year". He adds: "there is no alternative to a peaceful solution - in fact there is an urgent need to solve the conflict in order to end the personal, economic, and social suffering on both sides of this conflict".

He suggests basing a solution on experiences from Europe, where democracy and integration are fundamental components in securing a lasting peace. Strong European and international institutions stand ready to support Armenia and Azerbaijan. This is a generous offer and must be seized.

He also stresses the usefulness of the work done by the Parliamentary Delegations of Armenia and Azerbaijan: "Once a peace agreement has been finalized by the two Governments, the parliamentary dimension becomes invaluable in informing the public and in ensuring the implementation. It is of utmost importance that networks of Members of Parliaments already exist and stand ready to take on these tasks".

Mr. Lennmarker was appointed in June 2002 and has since then visited Armenia and Azerbaijan on numerous occasions, meeting with representatives of all sections of society including refugees on both sides. He has also met with international actors, including the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Let us remind you that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly takes place in Washington on July 1-5.

Let us also remind you that the Azeri deputy Satar Safarov had also represented supplementary material titled «Armenian-Azeri Conflict about Nagorno Karabakh». But the Parliament turned it down with a majority of votes. With the 19-point convention Safarov, among other things, demanded «the immediate ousting of the occupying forces from the territory of Azerbaijan».