Newsroom
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Severin visits Armenia
YEREVAN 29 October 2001
YEREVAN, 29 October 2001 (OSCE) - From 26 to 28 October, Adrian Severin, the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), paid an official visit to Armenia to acquire a deeper insight into the present situation in the country and to have talks with Government officials, parliamentarians and civil society representatives. The President also held talks with the OSCE Office in Yerevan. The Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Ambassador Roy Reeve, participated in meetings that were relevant to the Office's mandate.
Mr. Severin, who represents more than 300 Members of Parliament from the 55 OSCE participating States, met President Kocharian, the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also met Members of the National Assembly, including the Armenian Delegation to the OSCE PA, and delegates of parliamentary factions in the current parliament. In addition, the OSCE PA President met with members of opposition parties, not represented in the current parliament. He also had a meeting with the Catholicos of All Armenians in Echmiadzin.
During the meetings, three general issues were discussed: security in the region, the need to consolidate democratic development, and the promotion of regional co-operation.
President Severin stressed that security in the South Caucasus is an integral part of the security and stability of the OSCE region. He also highlighted that the strengthening of security and stability in the region of the South Caucasus is of particular importance and urgent as part of the global fight against terrorism. The OSCE PA President expressed how his visit to Armenia is proof that the global attention to terrorism does not mean that regional or local conflicts are neglected or forgotten.
President Severin also stated that democratic development is an essential element in finding a solution to the ongoing conflicts in the region, and he expressed his support for the democratization, human rights, and economic/environmental work of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. Mr. Severin noted that the Government and the opposition forces, which are not represented in the current parliament, expressed different views with regard to progress in the democratic process.
The issue of regional co-operation was discussed in several meetings, and it was stressed that co-operation is needed in order to enhance economic development in the region. In addition, President Severin emphasized that some problems can only be approached regionally, especially on issues like organized crime and corruption.
Furthermore, President Severin discussed ways in which the OSCE, and in particular the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, could be more instrumental in providing support to democratic developments in Armenia.
During his visit, President Severin briefly visited Nagorno-Karabakh. In his meetings there, President Severin stressed that he was not in Nagorno-Karabakh to recognize or negotiate on its status but to listen to various groups of people and to be able to evaluate the situation on the ground. During meetings in Nagorno-Karabakh, President Severin stressed the need to find a compromise and highlighted that in order to be able to implement a solution, once a compromise is found, the public must be informed throughout. During his visit to the South Caucasus, President Severin emphasized the need to refrain from using strong, confrontational rhetoric.
The OSCE PA President suggested that a new political impulse within the OSCE is needed, as well as a new commitment by the international community to overcome the frozen conflicts in the Southern Caucasus within the framework of OSCE Documents and principles of international law.
Mr. Severin, who represents more than 300 Members of Parliament from the 55 OSCE participating States, met President Kocharian, the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also met Members of the National Assembly, including the Armenian Delegation to the OSCE PA, and delegates of parliamentary factions in the current parliament. In addition, the OSCE PA President met with members of opposition parties, not represented in the current parliament. He also had a meeting with the Catholicos of All Armenians in Echmiadzin.
During the meetings, three general issues were discussed: security in the region, the need to consolidate democratic development, and the promotion of regional co-operation.
President Severin stressed that security in the South Caucasus is an integral part of the security and stability of the OSCE region. He also highlighted that the strengthening of security and stability in the region of the South Caucasus is of particular importance and urgent as part of the global fight against terrorism. The OSCE PA President expressed how his visit to Armenia is proof that the global attention to terrorism does not mean that regional or local conflicts are neglected or forgotten.
President Severin also stated that democratic development is an essential element in finding a solution to the ongoing conflicts in the region, and he expressed his support for the democratization, human rights, and economic/environmental work of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. Mr. Severin noted that the Government and the opposition forces, which are not represented in the current parliament, expressed different views with regard to progress in the democratic process.
The issue of regional co-operation was discussed in several meetings, and it was stressed that co-operation is needed in order to enhance economic development in the region. In addition, President Severin emphasized that some problems can only be approached regionally, especially on issues like organized crime and corruption.
Furthermore, President Severin discussed ways in which the OSCE, and in particular the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, could be more instrumental in providing support to democratic developments in Armenia.
During his visit, President Severin briefly visited Nagorno-Karabakh. In his meetings there, President Severin stressed that he was not in Nagorno-Karabakh to recognize or negotiate on its status but to listen to various groups of people and to be able to evaluate the situation on the ground. During meetings in Nagorno-Karabakh, President Severin stressed the need to find a compromise and highlighted that in order to be able to implement a solution, once a compromise is found, the public must be informed throughout. During his visit to the South Caucasus, President Severin emphasized the need to refrain from using strong, confrontational rhetoric.
The OSCE PA President suggested that a new political impulse within the OSCE is needed, as well as a new commitment by the international community to overcome the frozen conflicts in the Southern Caucasus within the framework of OSCE Documents and principles of international law.