June 6, 2002 - 22:55 AMT
BAKU CONVINCED POWERFUL ARMENIAN LOBBY OPERATES IN PACE
Chairman of the foreign relations commission of Azerbaijani milli mejlis, member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Azeri delegation Samed Seidov states that powerful Armenian lobby, which makes efforts to protect the interests of Yerevan regarding appointment of the rapporteur on the Karabakh settlement, operates in the Council of Europe. Baku mass media attribute the Armenian Foreign Minister's visit to Strasbourg to the coming discussion of the rapporteur candidates. Baku considers that Vardan Oskanian's meetings with the Council of Europe leadership aimed at securing the appointment of a "pro-Armenian" politician as the rapporteur. According to the information of Azeri sources, leader of the PACE Socialist faction, British delegation head Tarry Davis pretends to this role. The parties' attitude towards this candidate is not known yet. Samed Seidov stated, "Azerbaijan will not let appointment of a biased rapporteur."