Peoples Cannot Be Denied Right to Self-Determination Simply out of Political ExpediencySeptember 23, 2006 - 17:01 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian participated in the 10th Bertelsmann Forum, held in Berlin, Germany, on September 22-23, reported the RA MFA press office. The one and a half day conference convened on Saturday afternoon with opening remarks by Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt. The audience of 100+ political leaders, which included former German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher and US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, heard perspectives on Europe's Strategic Responses, as the conference is entitled.Following the opening session, Minister Oskanian participated in a panel on The Balkans and the Black Sea - a Litmus Test for Europe. The panel also included the presidents of Bulgaria, Romania and Azerbaijan, and the Prime Minister of Montenegro. Throughout the discussion, Oskanian affirmed that the region's litmus test for Europe would be an effective European Neighborhood Policy, the functionality and integrity of the Black Sea region, and practical approaches to conflicts. During a lively discussion on Kosovo, Minister Oskanian cautioned against denying peoples their right to self-determination, simply out of political expediency. If the world were guided by a fear of setting precedents, he said, half the countries in the world today would not exist. But there has to be strict criteria, he said, and the chief principle should be whether the state can claim the moral authority to rule. Top stories 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. The Yerevan City Council has elected Tigran Avniyan from the ruling Civil Contract as the mayor of the Armenian capital. The Armenian Parliament on Tuesday, October 3 voted to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Partner news | Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells Aliyev German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for greater respect for human rights in Azerbaijan. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. |