PACE ARMENIAN DELEGATION CAME OUT WITH AN INITIATIVE TO DISCUSS AGGRESSIVE CALLS BY AZERBAIJAN AND BLOCKADE IMPOSED BY TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net - Head of the Armenian delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Hovhannes Hovhannisian addressed a letter to the CE Committee of Ministers proposing to discuss the recent calls in Azerbaijan to set about military resolution of the Karabakh conflict. Speaking at the Assembly session Hovhannisian stated, "in the course of the last months Azerbajani authorities, including President Heydar Aliev, have come out with calls to resumption of war aiming at creation of favourable situation for power resolution of the Karabakh problem." The head of PACE Armenian delegation reminded in the letter that when joining CE on 25 of January 2001 Armenia and Azerbaijan committed themselves to settle the Karabakh problem solely via peaceful means. Hovhannisian suggested the CE Committee of Ministers to address an appeal to Azerbaijan "to refrain from statements, which call to military resolution of the conflict and jeopardize the peace settlement process."

Hovhannisian also proposed to discuss the matter of the blockade against Armenia imposed by Turkey. He noted Armenian economy suffered losses due to the Turkish policy. "Blockade policy held by a CE member state in relation to the other, obviously conflicts with CE regulations," - head of PACE delegation writes in his letter. On this occasion Hovhannisian called on CE to intervene and demand that Turkish authorities raise the blockade.