European Parliament demands peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh problem

The resolution of the European Parliament on South Caucasus' unsettled conflicts, the Nagorno-Karabakh issue inclusive, states that the conflicts should be settled exclusively through peaceful negotiations.

"The resolution welcomes the successful course of democratic reforms in Armenia and efficient fulfilment of the Armenia-EU action programme under the 'new neighbourhood' policy. The European Parliament emphasizes that the parliamentary elections in Armenia in May 2007 met international standards and calls on to ensure the same level during the presidential election on February 19 either," runs the statement of the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.

The resolution entitled "More Efficient EU Policy in South Caucasus: from Promises to Actions" was passed yesterday, January 18. The document asserts that peaceful settlement of the Karabakh problem is a must for stability of European neighbourhood, as well as for economic and social development of South Caucasus.

According to the resolution, the contradictions between the principles of self-determination of nations and territorial integrity of states results in settlement delays of South Caucasian problems, the RIA "Novosti" reports.

Meanwhile, according to David Arutyunyan, head of the Armenia parliamentary delegation to the PACE, chairman of the standing parliamentary commission on state-and-legal matters and deputy of the National Assembly of Armenia, there will be no extraordinary PACE session on Nagorno-Karabakh. He has noted that only a working discussion will take place on the issue whether the members of this commission will decide to visit the region, the "Panorama.am" informs.

It is remarkable, that the European Parliament's resolution on South Caucasus appeared soon after the statement of Ilham Aliev, President of Azerbaijan, that the war for Karabakh in not over yet. On January 17, when speaking to residents of the Agdam District in Guzanly village at opening of the Olympic Complex, Mr Aliev said that "only the first stage of the war" is over.