PACE has forgotten its tools

By Karen Martirosyan

Through the draft resolution “Escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh and the other occupied territories of Azerbaijan” by Robert Walter, the transfer of the question of Karabakh conflict to the platform of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) with such destructive methods, threatens to even more destabilize the situation in the whole South Caucasus. This threat should be clearly acknowledged in PACE.

In 2001, when Azerbaijan and Armenia joined the Council of Europe, in its 221 (2000) and 222 (2000) Conclusions PACE indicated that "the accession of Armenia and Azerbaijan could assist to establish an atmosphere of trust that is essential for the resolution of Karabakh conflict.” PACE also stressed that "the Parliamentary Assembly considers that the OSCE Minsk Group is the most optimum framework for negotiating a peaceful settlement to this conflict."

Therefore, in such a situation the main function of PACE should be the support in developing confidence-building measures among the sides. Robert Walter's draft resolution contradicts to the declared principles of PACE and may worsen the situation, undermining the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

By the way, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs James Warlick (USA), Igor Popov (Russia) and Pierre Andrieu (France) in their statement  made in November 2015, referring to the suggestions to create a new format and working groups for the settlement of the conflict, stressed that "considering the sensitivity of the negotiations, attempts to change the format or create parallel mechanisms can disrupt the negotiation process and impede progress towards a settlement." In addition, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs have a unique experience in mediation; they deal with the problem at a professional platform, while the discussion of Karabakh conflict at the level of Walter’s biased draft resolutions undermines the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Armenia has always acted in favor of establishing close cooperation among the South Caucasian republics for overcoming problems, trying to use PACE resources for this purpose. In particular, in 1999 the Speaker of National Assembly of Armenia Khosrov Haroutounyan came up with an initiative for establishing a parliamentary cooperation of South Caucasian countries under the auspices of PACE.

On March 15, 1999, the Speakers of the Parliaments of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia (Khosrov Haroutounian, Murtuz Alekserov, Zurab Zhvania) in Strasbourg adopted a joint declaration  announcing the establishment of a dialogue at parliamentary level. South Caucasian republics were hopeful that this format to be created under the auspices of PACE would help in developing regional cooperation and creating an atmosphere of confidence. It was expected that PACE should have its contribution in the establishment of cooperation of the countries in non-controversial areas not only at high levels, but also among common citizens. By joining the Council of Europe, the South Caucasian republics wanted to see CoE’s support for eliminating the atmosphere of hatred and building a lasting peace.

Many PACE rapporteurs have also in different years come up with a proposal to create a Stability Pact for the South Caucasus, clearly understanding that the PACE’s function should be making efforts aimed at strengthening the atmosphere of confidence and stability in the region, not discussion of biased political reports.