ID :
123469
Sat, 05/22/2010 - 00:54
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/123469
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EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION DEMANDS “WITHDRAWAL OF ARMENIAN FORCES FROM ALL OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF AZERBAIJAN”
Baku, May 21 (AzerTAc). On May 20, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the need for an EU strategy for the South Caucasus. The resolution No 2009/2216 highlights questions concerning the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict among other issues.
The European Parliament welcomes the negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict illustrated by the six meetings between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan held over the course of 2009 in the spirit of the Moscow Declaration. It calls on the parties to intensify their peace talk efforts for the purpose of a settlement, show a more constructive attitude, remove the status quo and seriously observe the ceasefire.
The European Parliament supports the mediation efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group, the Basic Principles contained in the Madrid Document and the statement by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries on 10 July 2009 on the margins of the G8 Summit in L`Aquila. The resolution calls on the international community to assist in overcoming the remaining sticking points which hinder an agreement.
The European Parliament also expresses its serious concern about the fact that hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs who fled their homes during the Nagorno-Karabakh war remain displaced and denied their rights. The resolution demands the withdrawal of Armenian forces from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan, accompanied by deployment of international forces to be organised with respect of the UN Charter in order to provide the necessary security guarantees in a period of transition. The European Parliament calls on the political authorities and leaders of relevant communities to demonstrate their commitment to the creation of peaceful inter-ethnic relations through practical preparations for the return of displaced person. The Parliament expresses belief all occupied Azerbaijani lands surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh should rapidly be abandoned, notes that an interim status for Nagorno-Karabakh could offer a solution until the final status is determined and that it could create a transitional framework for peaceful coexistence and cooperation of Armenian and Azerbaijani populations in the region.
In its “Progress towards democratization and respect for human rights and the rule of law” section, the resolution stresses Azerbaijan`s efforts towards ensuring democratization, good governance, political pluralism and the rule of law, and strengthening the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The resolution emphasizes Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev`s pardoning 171 prisoners on 25 December 2009 and 17 March 2010.
In the resolution`s “Economic issues and social development” section, the European Parliament stresses that unsolved conflicts are an impediment to development of the region. It praises political stability and reform process in Azerbaijan, saying it makes the country`s economy more attractive to foreign investors.
The resolution praises Azerbaijan`s efforts towards developing the private sector. It also praises Azerbaijan`s economic progress amid the global crisis, adding, however, that economies of Armenia and Georgia have been seriously affected by the crisis.
The Parliament notes the strategic geopolitical location of the South Caucasus and its increasing importance as an energy, transport and communications corridor connecting the Caspian region and Central Asia with Europe. It also praises Azerbaijan`s and Georgia`s active role in the promotion of energy supply and transit diversification in the region.
The resolution stresses the importance of deepening the EU-Azerbaijani energy partnership and notes the great value of Azerbaijan`s energy resources. The European Parliament commends Azerbaijan for its participation in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.
The resolution notes the intensifying Azerbaijani-Russian partnership, particularly in the energy sector, and welcomes in this context the intention of Azerbaijan to diversify its economy and develop the energy sector.
It recalls that the double energy corridor formed by the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum (BTE) pipelines plays a key role in ensuring Europe`s energy security.
The European Parliament reaffirms the need for the EU to develop a strategy for the South Caucasus, given the importance of the region for the EU and the potential role that the EU has in fostering further the development of the region and in the solution of its conflicts.
The European Parliament welcomes the negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict illustrated by the six meetings between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan held over the course of 2009 in the spirit of the Moscow Declaration. It calls on the parties to intensify their peace talk efforts for the purpose of a settlement, show a more constructive attitude, remove the status quo and seriously observe the ceasefire.
The European Parliament supports the mediation efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group, the Basic Principles contained in the Madrid Document and the statement by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries on 10 July 2009 on the margins of the G8 Summit in L`Aquila. The resolution calls on the international community to assist in overcoming the remaining sticking points which hinder an agreement.
The European Parliament also expresses its serious concern about the fact that hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs who fled their homes during the Nagorno-Karabakh war remain displaced and denied their rights. The resolution demands the withdrawal of Armenian forces from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan, accompanied by deployment of international forces to be organised with respect of the UN Charter in order to provide the necessary security guarantees in a period of transition. The European Parliament calls on the political authorities and leaders of relevant communities to demonstrate their commitment to the creation of peaceful inter-ethnic relations through practical preparations for the return of displaced person. The Parliament expresses belief all occupied Azerbaijani lands surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh should rapidly be abandoned, notes that an interim status for Nagorno-Karabakh could offer a solution until the final status is determined and that it could create a transitional framework for peaceful coexistence and cooperation of Armenian and Azerbaijani populations in the region.
In its “Progress towards democratization and respect for human rights and the rule of law” section, the resolution stresses Azerbaijan`s efforts towards ensuring democratization, good governance, political pluralism and the rule of law, and strengthening the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The resolution emphasizes Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev`s pardoning 171 prisoners on 25 December 2009 and 17 March 2010.
In the resolution`s “Economic issues and social development” section, the European Parliament stresses that unsolved conflicts are an impediment to development of the region. It praises political stability and reform process in Azerbaijan, saying it makes the country`s economy more attractive to foreign investors.
The resolution praises Azerbaijan`s efforts towards developing the private sector. It also praises Azerbaijan`s economic progress amid the global crisis, adding, however, that economies of Armenia and Georgia have been seriously affected by the crisis.
The Parliament notes the strategic geopolitical location of the South Caucasus and its increasing importance as an energy, transport and communications corridor connecting the Caspian region and Central Asia with Europe. It also praises Azerbaijan`s and Georgia`s active role in the promotion of energy supply and transit diversification in the region.
The resolution stresses the importance of deepening the EU-Azerbaijani energy partnership and notes the great value of Azerbaijan`s energy resources. The European Parliament commends Azerbaijan for its participation in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.
The resolution notes the intensifying Azerbaijani-Russian partnership, particularly in the energy sector, and welcomes in this context the intention of Azerbaijan to diversify its economy and develop the energy sector.
It recalls that the double energy corridor formed by the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum (BTE) pipelines plays a key role in ensuring Europe`s energy security.
The European Parliament reaffirms the need for the EU to develop a strategy for the South Caucasus, given the importance of the region for the EU and the potential role that the EU has in fostering further the development of the region and in the solution of its conflicts.
