The Armenian delegation’s participation in the Baku meeting of the Socialist International Committee for the CIS, the Caucasus and the Black Sea was effective, Mario Nalbandian, a Bureau member, Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), and Giro Manoyan, Head of the Hay Dat (Armenian Cause) office, both of whom attended the meeting, told a press conference in Yerevan.

Manoyan pointed out that the Armenian delegates “opened Azerbaijan journalists’ eyes” to many issues they had false ideas of. “Moreover, we adequately responded to the false accusations and remarks of Co-Chairman of the Social-Democratic Party of Azerbaijan Araz Alizade. Our position received a favorable response on the part of the delegates. In this context we can say it was a successful meeting,” Nalbandian said in his turn.  He stressed that the Armenian delegation was duly received in Baku, with necessary security measures taken. “Except for my visa problems, which made me stay at the airport for five hours, it was all right,” Nalbandian said.

Manoyan reported that the Socialist International Council is to meet in Paris, France, on November 15-16. Armenian and Azerbaijani delegates have been offered to present their opinions on the Nagorno-Karabakh problem and, if possible, seek convergence. “We have presented our proposals, but will Mr. Alizade be able to present his? It seems difficult to say – parliamentary elections are to be held in Azerbaijan in a month,” Manoyan said. He reported that the Socialist International Committee for the CIS, the Caucasus and the Black Sea is to hold its next meeting in Astana.

Commenting on his TV debate with Ara Aluzade, Giro Manoyan pointed out that the Azeri politician must have used the TV debate for election campaign purposes. “He was talking pure nonsense, and I did not even want – but had - to respond. For example, Akhtamar is just an Armenian brandy, according to Alizade. Or, he claims, fewer Armenians are  living in Nagorno-Karabakh now than before its independence,” Manoyan said.