Why did Armenian Delegation Vote against OSCE PA pro-Armenian Declaration?
There are a few essential pro-Armenian points in the Declaration of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) adopted on July 5 in Tbilisi. Concern was expressed in it on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, OSCE PA parliamentarians welcomed “Active participation of OSCE Co-Chairs to establish negotiation formats and mechanisms towards political settlement of postponing conflicts in the territory of OSCE.” The OSCE PA also calls upon parliamentarians “to encourage political will from the sides in the region to engage in serious efforts to reach an agreement on confidence building-measures to reduce the risk for further hostilities along the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone and to negotiate a comprehensive settlement within the framework of the Minsk Group.”
And Armenian delegation voted against this pro-Armenian document. According to analysts and politicians, the reason is Russia, which also voted against the Declaration, as it contains strict criticism and they call on Russia to abstain from recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as the process of annexation of the Crimea.
Artashes Geghamyan is the Head of the Armenian Delegation of OSCE PA and RPA Faction MP, and members are: Stepan Demirchyan, ANC MP, and Mikael Melkumyan, PAP member. Levon Dokholyan, “Rule of Law” party member and Aghvan Vardanyan, ARF member, are substituting members and didn’t participate in Tbilisi summit. Only Geghamyan voted against the Declaration, Demirchyan and Melkumyan didn’t vote.
Artashes Geghamyan told “168 Hours” that position of the Armenian Delegation is “rather clear,” reminding that the Armenian delegation also voted against the resolution 2 weeks ago at UN General Assembly. According to him the Declaration contains pro-Armenian points, which were moved to the Declaration from former resolution adopted by the commission.
If there are pro-Armenian points, why did you vote against?
I had different expectations, and questions in my speech were much sharper. Of course, big progress is observed in this Declaration, however, you should give question to yourself: why did Azerbaijan vote for Tbilisi Declaration? My partners, with whom I’m in perfect relations, it mainly refers European and Russian delegates, they understood that when there is war, unleashed by Azerbaijan, I’m adding a point that they don’t “express concerns” but “condemn aggression,” then that correction isn’t accepted, and Azerbaijan appears against it. Thus, they were the aggressors. And as utter aggression was uncovered, however, I think it’s weak. Yes, it’s very pro-Armenian, but it’s weak. And let them also know that it can’t satisfy us.
Points 35, 40, 47, 49, and particularly 35, which clearly reads that postponing conflicts should be settled based on 3 main principles: territorial integrity, non-application of force and exclusion of threat of exertion, equality of peoples and the right for self-determination, after which they put a comma and called on Russia to suspend annexation of the Crimea. Thus, this point refers other conflicts, and ours is there, as well as Transnistria, and it doesn’t refer Ukraine. When milder assessments were given on the Crimea, the Armenian delegation voted against, i.e. our official disposition was against. And non-realization of my expectations was added to it, and I voted against.
This is the first case, when by saying OSCE PA “migrants” Armenia is meant. Azerbaijan has always been in that position with its 1 million Azerbaijanis, i.e. their trump card of migrants was fully removed by that point.
Rather hard assessments addressed to Russia are enshrined there, separate resolution has been adopted regarding to violations of human rights in the Crimea. Enthusiasm, by which Azerbaijanis accept this document, it’s clear that they should do the same regarding Karabakh. Members of our delegation properly oriented in UNO last year and 15 days ago, and it’s good that they were against. Thus, brilliant result has been recorded. The Declaration was adopted by 6 “against,” more than 100 “for” and 28-29 “abstained” votes. Thus, we have a document at our disposal, which reaches any Azerbaijani demagogy to zero.
And voting against such a document by the Armenian side is perceived as another step, serving interests of Russia.
First and foremost, Armenia’s interests have been protected. Only the fact that during the aggression 500-800 people died, only this is becoming a reason for concern, this formulation isn’t acceptable to me. Otherwise all this may be dedicated, however, we need to be more demanding and not to forget that a war was unleashed against us, and let’s not forget that we recorded 103 casualties, let’s not forget that they are shooting until now, every day an Armenian soldier and a peaceful civilian falls on the border. As for Russia, this will let our political authorities say: look to whom you sell armaments, that under anti-Russian resolution it votes against, and against whom those armaments are directed the one votes against. Thus, you may observe what comes out of it, when those points are adopted in the Declaration.
What is strange, for this very reason Armenia is voting against.
Yes, it votes against, as under 500 casualties the aggressor isn’t condemned. I voted against only for that reason, and I did it right. Now I look back and I think I did it right. And they should know, that we have offense, as how may they recognize Kosovo, give independence, and Karabakh, which has become much more invulnerable from the standpoint of international law, it’s an independent republic, and they are postponing it until now.
By Gayane Khachatryan
