EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RAPPORTEUR SAYS NAGORNO KARABAKH CANNOT BE UNDER OFFICIAL BAKUMay 12, 2004 - 19:30 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Nagorno Karabakh cannot submit to official Baku, European Parliament rapporteur for the South Caucasus Per Gahrton told Arminfo agency. In his words, it is not important part of which country Karabakh comprises if "it lives autonomous life and provides itself with foodstuffs". Gahrton acknowledged that Nagorno Karabakh was a part of Azerbaijan, but, according to him, the problem can be settled by "opening the border with Armenia and establishing trade relations with it, thus securing free transportation through the territory of Karabakh and Armenia". "Such conditions could create opportunities for marathon negotiations as the core of the settlement lies not in the declaration of independence but in the establishment of friendly relationships between the countries and self-efficiency of domestic policy", Gahrton said. In his words, the desire of the involved parties to settle the Karabakh conflict is the issue of utmost importance. However it can only become possible with the further preservation of armistice, opening of the borders and absence of discrimination of people due to citizenship. For example, similar measures were taken in the Scandinavian and European states when the issue of national belonging receded, Gahrton noted. Top stories The Armenian Defense Ministry has denied Azerbaijan's accusations of violating the ceasefire. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. President of the Armenian parliament Alen Simonyan met with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova. Achieving stable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains a priority of the OSCE, said Ian Borg. Partner news | Armenia named European U18 chess vice-champion The U18 chess team of Armenia won the title of vice-champion of the European Team Championship. Congress draft bill condemns Azerbaijan for Karabakh ethnic cleansing The bill condemns Azerbaijan for perpetrating ethnic cleansing against the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh. MEPs issue statement to defend Armenia-France military cooperation The deputies emphasized that having an army armed with combat and modern military equipment is the sovereign right of any country. Iran begins voting in presidential election Iranians started voting for a new president following the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. |