Pan Armenian News
FRANCE DOES ITS BEST FOR FAIR SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT
12.04.2005 03:29
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ «No hearing over the Karabakh issue is scheduled in the
French Senate. On the whole I do not have information whether the hearings
will be held or not,» President of the French-Azeri Friendship Group of the
French Senate Ambroise Dupont stated, when clearing out the Azeri press
reports on the coming hearings over the Nagorno Karabakh issue in the French
Parliament. «The work being done by the French Senate President Christian
Poncelet is important to us. In this respect, maybe the aforementioned
hearings are held within the framework of «the four» – between the Chairmen
of the Parliaments of the South Caucasian countries and the French Senate
President. It should be noted that the Senate group, called Audit, considers
the state in the conflict zones, including that in the South Caucasus,» he
noted. The Friendship Group leader noted that after the meeting of Chairmen
of the Parliaments of the South Caucasian states in Versailles the next
meeting within that format was held in Tbilisi. Answering the question on
the probability to expect an impartial stand of France in the Karabakh
settlement «within the context of the frequent accusations of France
supporting Armenians,» Mr. Dupont said that the French State and the
Government as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair, do their best for the fair
settlement of the Karabakh conflict. However, in his words, it does not mean
that France is an arbitrator between «the players.» «If we imagine France as
an arbitrator in that «game», it will turn out that not the arbitrator
determines the rules of that «game». The rules of the «game» should be
determined by the «players» themselves. However, in any case the peaceful
option of solution of the Karabakh conflict is desirable. I would even say
that the peaceful option is the guarantee of the existence of this region,»
Mr. Dupont added. The French guest also noted that Paris follows with
attention the talks within the OSCE MG framework. On the essence of the
Friendship Group assistance to the solution of the conflict Mr. Dupont
stated that Armenians are known better than Azeris in France. «You just said
it yourself that French is often considered a pro-Armenian state. Sometimes
it is true, sometimes it is not. It is true, as Armenians live throughout
the world, including there are many in France. Thus we know Armenians better
than Azerbaijan and Azeris. I personally make efforts for Azerbaijan to
become more known in France», he summed up.