Euronest PA session opens in Yerevan, no Azeri representatives present March 16, 2015 - 14:52 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Euronest has opened its Inter-Parliamentary Assembly’s fourth plenary session in Yerevan, bringing together representatives from Eastern Partnership (EaP) Civil Society Platforms and NGOs. No Azerbaijani representatives were present at the meeting, Tert.am reports. An opening remark was delivered by Euronest Vice President Hiedi Hautala, who greeted and thanked the participants for organizing the event. The session is conducted by Richard Giragosian, the director of the Yerevan-based Regional Studies Center. In his speech, Krzysztof Bobinski, a co-chair of the EaP Civil Society Forum, welcomed the civil society building efforts in different countries. He noted with regret that no Azerbaijani members of the Assembly were in attendance but expressed hope that the time will come when the country will no longer hesitate to send delegates to Armenia and will become developed enough not to have political prisoners in its penitentiary institutions. He also said he expects the authorities in Armenia to reach the necessary level of understanding to never turn a blind eye to civic activists. He also spoke of Armenia’s elections, noting that election rigging causes damage to the European Union, European structures and dignity. Georgia’s representative, member of the Open Society Foundations Vano Chkhikvadze spoke of his country’s strong and weak points. Georgia had adopted a bill prohibiting any discrimination in visa facilitation, which is an important step toward further democratization. Chkhikvadze said that Georgia has made progress in freedom of speech. On the other hand, the country still has to make progress in the appointment of judges. The country lacks mechanisms of investigating abuse by law-enforcement agencies. He further welcomed progress in Georgian-Russia relations. “Relations with Russia seem to be in the process of re-establishment. But I do not see Georgia is sacrificing anything to re-establish relations with Russia,” he said. Georgia’s ruling coalition insists that Georgia’s full integration into NATO and the EU is impossible. Top stories 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. The Cabinet of Ministers decided on Thursday, November 9 to allocated AMD 120 million to arrange the gathering. Michael Roth believes sanctions must be put on the table after Baku‘s ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. Partner news | 17 bridges collapse as a result of floods in Armenia As a result of floods in Armenia’s northern Lori and Tavush provinces, 17 bridges, including five large ones, have collapsed. Armenia: Top cleric to retain title as he bids to become interim PM Galstanyan said earlier that the interim government would be tasked with stopping the “destruction of our homeland”. Ex-mayor of Karabakh capital arrested in Yerevan Ex-mayor of the Nagorno-Karabakh city of Stepanakert David Sargsyan has been arrested for 20 days. 269 people evacuated amid severe floods in Armenia’s north According to the Interior Ministry, 269 people have been evacuated from their homes in Lori and Tavush provinces. |