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Armenia and ANCC Attend OSCE PA Fall Meeting in Toronto

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  • Armenia and ANCC Attend OSCE PA Fall Meeting in Toronto

    Armenian National Committee of Canada
    Comité National Arménien du Canada
    130 Albert St., Suite/Bureau 1007
    Ottawa, ON
    KIP 5G4
    Tel./Tél. (613) 235-2622 Fax/Téléc. (613) 238-2622
    E-mail/courriel:national.office@anc-canad a.com
    www.anccanada.org



    PRESS RELEASE

    September 23, 2008
    Contact: Roupen Kouyoumjian

    Armenia and ANCC Attend OSCE PA Fall Meeting in Toronto

    TORONTO -- Four delegates from Armenia attend the Organization of
    Organizations for Security Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary
    Assembly's three-day fall meeting on Sep. 18 here. The Armenian
    delegation consisted of head of delegation Aram Safarian, Prosperous
    Armenia; Khachig Harutiunian, Orinats Yergir; Larisa Alaverdian,
    Heritage; and Anahit Gasparyan, head of international organizations
    department at the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia.

    Aris Babikian attended the meeting as an observer on behalf of the
    Armenian National Committee of Canada.

    The morning session on Sept. 18 was devoted to `The OSCE Mediterranean
    Dimension', while the afternoon session focused on `OSCE in an Open
    World: Trade, Security, and Migration'. Keynote speaker Gareth Evans,
    president and chief executive of the International Group and the
    former foreign minister of Australia, analyzed the current and future
    security role of the OSCE and NATO's role in Europe.

    Within the context of the OSCE ODIHR election monitoring missions
    around Europe, Evans made an ambiguous remark on the presidential
    election in Armenia. He said, `While the mission in Macedonia played a
    very helpful role, there was the positive assessment of Armenian
    presidential elections in February 2008 that in fact were fraught with
    problems and led to fatal clashes between police and demonstrators.'

    During a question-and-answer session, Armenian representative
    Alaverdian challenged the Evans' statement and asked more
    clarification.

    Evans also labeled Russia as an aggressor and occupier in the recent
    South Ossetia-Georgia conflict. His remarks launched a wave of anger
    from the Russian delegation. During the question-and-answer session,
    the head of the Russian delegation, Alexander Kozlovskiy, attacked
    Evans and criticized the OSCE Secretariat for inviting Evans. He
    called the former Australian foreign minister's speech and the western
    media's approach to the South Ossetia-Georgia crisis as `information
    terrorism'. Kozlovsky also said that what had happened was an insult
    to Russia. "We [OSCE] do not need lecturers to come and teach us about
    our security,' he added. Kozlovskiy then presented a historical
    prospective of the crisis.

    A Greek delegate also raised his objection by saying, `We are not in a
    classroom. We are a political body and speakers should behave
    accordingly.'

    In the Mediterranean Forum session, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings made
    the following supportive statement on Turkey and its membership in
    EU. `I hope that Turkey is given fair and expeditious consideration
    for accession to the European Union.'

    The second day was the highlights of the meeting. While the morning
    session was devoted to the topic of `Economic/Environmental
    Dimensions', the afternoon session was about Georgia-Russia conflict.

    Goren Lennmarker, special envoy for the situation in Georgia,
    presented a report in which he divided his speech into three sections:
    What Happened; the cost of the conflict; the future.

    He called on `the three countries of the Caucasus to come together to
    help each other, cooperate and shape their future.' He also said that
    it is time to solve the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict between Armenia and
    Azerbaijan. He added that in the next meeting, to be held after the
    presidential elections in Azerbaijan, he would have a detailed report.

    Eka Tkeshelashvili, foreign minister of Georgia, presented her
    country's case. She said, `The frozen conflicts concept is wrong and
    dangerous'. She said that the recent conflict in Georgia was
    premeditated by Russia. `International engagement should be more
    straightforward. This is military invasion/ethnic cleansing. Russia
    should restore its image as a reliable partner. NATO should be
    expanded bringing Georgia closer to the European Union.' She also
    called for an `international investigation mission.

    Vitaly Churkin, Russia's ambassador to the UN, presented Russia's
    case. He went through a long list of incidents which demonstrated
    Georgians had frequently broken international law. The annulment of
    the Ossetians and Abkhazians self-autonomy which they had enjoyed
    under the Soviet Union and the declaration of `Georgia for Georgians'
    was one example, he said, of Georgia's breaking of international
    law. He cited an article in the UN Charter which demonstrated
    Ossetians and Abkhazians are entitled to break away from Georgia. To
    underline Georgia's aggressive intentions, he pointed out that Georgia
    had increased its military budget 50 fold. Churkin asked NATO member
    countries whether they were "willing to rescue your country's security
    for the sake of Saakashvili"

    Afterwards some 50 delegates took to the floor and made
    statements. Delegate said that use of force by Russia was
    disproportionate. They said "This is a new Iron Curtain. Russia is
    redrawing the borders of Europe. Georgia's territorial integrity
    should be supported. Russia is unreliable and unpredictable. Russia
    broke the rule of law. This is state annexation."

    Many delegates called for an international observers and investigation
    team to go to Georgia to investigate the conflict and its
    aftermath. They also called for dialogue and cooperation.

    The Russian and Georgian delegations exchanged frequent insults and
    were often highly emotional.

    Aram Safaryan of Armenia said that we [Armenia] believe in the OSCE
    peaceful efforts. He said, "The Russian Federation is our strategic
    ally and the largest trade partner. We look with respect to Russia's
    role and interest in the Caucasus. Georgia is our traditional
    neighbor. Some 70% of our imports come through Georgia. During the
    five days of the conflict Armenia lost $682 million. Armenia doesn't
    look favorably to big power clashes in the Caucasus. Safaryan called
    for balanced relationship between Russia, the United States and the
    European Union. He said his government supported Turkey's `Caucasus
    Platform' proposal and positively assessed Gul's visit to Armenia. He
    called for the right of self-determination for all the nations of the
    Caucasus.

    Larisa Alaverdyan, called for an international conference to discuss
    the issues of the over 100 nations that make up the Caucasus. She
    called for the Caucasian nations to make their contribution to the
    region and to speak their mind.

    The chairwoman of the Azeri delegation supported the territorial
    integrity of Georgia. She said Azerbaijan rejected Georgian
    separatism, considered Abdullah Gul's visit to Armenia a positive
    step, and called for the establishment and safeguards for the energy
    transportation routes. She said that tension and recriminations do not
    help the situation and called for dialogue. She then asked the OSCE to
    turn its attention to solving the problem in Nagorno-Karapagh problem
    "where [OSCE] did not keep its commitment."

    The head of the Turkish delegation called for peace and stability in
    the region. He said nations had a moral responsibility to turn the
    region to the benefit the people. The Turkish delegate said the
    recognition by Russia of Abkhazia and Ossetia is an alarming
    development and would have negative effect on the resolution of the
    conflict.

    On the third and last day of the gathering, the agenda was titled
    `Human Dimension' on role of OSCE ODIHR in promoting human rights,
    democracy, migration and integration of legal and illegal migrants.

    Alaverdyan of Armenia mentioned the non cooperation of neighboring
    countries in the migrants issue. She mentioned Turkey's non-responsive
    attitude to cooperating on the issue of Armenian migrants to Turkey
    and in protecting their rights.

    The ANCC representative had many opportunities to meet the various
    delegates and OSCE PA leaders, discuss with them the Nagaorno Khrabagh
    conflict and give them copies of Patrick Wilson Gore`s book ` Tis Some
    Poor Fellow's Skull' on Nagorno-Karapagh.

    *****

    The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
    grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
    network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
    affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
    the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of
    issues.

    ------

    Le CNAC est l'organisation politique canadienne-arménienne la plus
    large et influentielle. Collaborant avec une série de bureaux,
    chapitres et souteneurs à travers le Canada et des organisations
    affiliées à travers le monde, le CNAC s'occupe activement des
    inquiétudes de la communauté canadienne-arménienne.


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    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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