The European Parliament’s resolution on South Caucasus proved the Armenian side should intensify its diplomatic and propaganda activities in the international arena, RA Deputy Foreign Ministers Karine Ghazinyan and Shavarsh Kocharyan stated in RA Parliamernt on May 27.

According to Kocharyan, Armenia should not have agreed to the appointment of the Bulgarian member of the European Parliament Evgeny Kirilov as PACE Co-Rappoarteur on South Caucasus. Ghazinyan said that his report could not be impartial as he did not visit the region or consult with the OSCE MG Co-Chairs.

“We should henceforth be more careful to avoid such blunders,” Sh. Kocharyan Deputy FMs said. He added that the resolution is not legally binding and Armenia is not obliged to follow its recommendations.

According to Ghazinyan, along with the provisions conflicting with the Armenian side’s interests, the document has positive points too. “For instance, they speak of the impossibility of a military solution to the conflict and the necessity to identify the interim status for Karabakh before its final status has been determined. The document also places emphasis on the settlement of the conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group,” Ghazinyan said. According to her, RA President Serzh Sargsyan’s meetings in Brussels with the heads of international organizations will help focus attention on the resolution.

Sh. Kocharyan said it is difficult for Yerevan to influence the European Parliament, as Armenian has not a delegation there. Azerbaijan does not have a delegation either, which, however, does not prevent Baku from pushing its ideas forward. Yerevan should intensify its activities with the international organizations, Kocharyan concluded.

The ARFD representative and the Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Armen Rustamyan said the Committee has certain ideas to neutralize the resolution. “A delegation should be formed, which will hold meetings with the leaders of the European Parliament and explain what a dangerous impact the resolution may have on further developments in the South Caucasus,” Rustamyan said.

L.A.