EP WELCOMES THE DEMOCRATIC REFORMS IN ARMENIA
Tatul Hakobyan
"Radiolur"
23.01.2008 13:49
On January 17 the European Parliament adopted a report "on a more
effective EU policy for the South Caucasus: from promises to actions."
The resolution refers extensively to the need to resolve regional
conflicts as well as transport and energy issues, and economic
cooperation.
Referring to the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the resolution states
that "the project bypasses the existing and fully operative rail
line in Armenia; urges the South Caucasus republics and Turkey to
pursue effectively policies of regional economic integration and to
refrain from any short-sighted and politically motivated regional
energy and transportation projects which violate ENP principles of
sound development."
The resolution affirms that "a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict — a conflict which exacerbates relations between
Armenia and Azerbaijan — and of Georgia’s internal conflicts in
Abkazia and South Ossetia, is essential for stability in the EU
neighbourhood, as well as for the economic and social development of
the South Caucasus region."
Further, regarding the Nagorno Karabakh conflict specifically,
the European Parliament "notes that the contradiction between the
principles of self-determination and territorial integrity contributes
to the perpetuation of the unresolved post-Soviet conflicts in the
South Caucasus region; considers that this problem can be overcome
only through negotiations."
The resolution supports the initiative by the EU Special Representative
for the South Caucasus, Mr Peter Semneby, to open Information Offices
in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and asks the Commission and Mr Semneby
to extend the same kind of aid and information dissemination to
Nagorno-Karabakh.
Commends the internal political and institutional reforms undertaken
by Armenia following the constitutional reform and in the context
of implementation of the ENP Action Plan; encourages the Armenian
authorities to continue on this path and to make further progress in
strengthening democratic structures, the rule of law and protection
of human rights; calls, in particular, for further efforts to be
made in establishing an independent judiciary, in promoting reforms
in the police, the civil service and local government, in fighting
corruption and in creating a vibrant civil society; notes the
statement of the International Election Observation Mission that the
parliamentary elections held in May 2007 were largely in accordance
with international commitments; trusts that the Armenian authorities
will work closely with the Organization for Security and Co-operation
in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe to address remaining issues
in order to further improve the standards already attained and fully
to guarantee the free and fair conduct of the presidential elections
to be held on 19 February 2008.
The resolution calls on upon Turkey to engage in serious and
intensive efforts for the resolution of outstanding disputes with
all its neighbours, in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant
UN Security Council resolutions and other relevant international
conventions, and including a frank and open discussion on past events;
reiterates its call on the Turkish and Armenian Governments to start
the process of reconciliation for the present and the past, and calls
on the Commission to facilitate this process while taking advantage
of the regional cooperation realised within the ENP and Black Sea
Synergy policy; calls on the Commission and the Council to address
the opening of the Turkish border with Armenia with the authorities
of those two countries.
The resolution strongly requests the countries involved and the
Commission to include Armenia in the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline
and in the Trans-Caspian energy corridor projects, in compliance with
the regional cooperation objective promoted by the ENP. It supports the
Commission’s initiative to undertake a feasibility study to evaluate
the possibility of a free-trade agreement with Georgia and Armenia.