The Armenian delegation has refused to participate in the session of the PACE commission on the Karabakh conflict issue. The head of the Armenian delegation, NA speaker Tigran Torosyan, explains this decision by saying that such sessions don’t have any positive results. The problem is the fact that during the previous sessions, in which the Armenian delegation could not participate since they were busy with the funeral of prime minister Andranik Margaryan, the Azeri delegation managed to develop several definitions that strictly contradict our interests. Particularly, the most important definition they developed is the same definition that the U.S. Department of State published in its annual report, which they said was included in the report “by mistake”, and indeed was not changed later.
The recent session of the PACE commission on the Karabakh conflict did not take place, since the Armenian delegation refused to participate in it. “Such sessions should have positive results; they can’t be nonsense and without any positive outcome, thus we can’t pretend and demonstrate that we are taking part in them,” said the head of the Armenian delegation, NA speaker Tigran Torosyan to “Azatutyun” radio station when explaining their decision. “I believe this was the logical and adequate response after the monitoring commission of Azerbaijan used the opportunity of our absence, as we were participating in the prime minister’s funeral, and by disorienting people and self-delusion developed some definitions in the resolution of responsibilities,” said the NA speaker. He added, “This witnesses to the fact that Azerbaijan is not only unable to follow ethical norms, but also is not able to step up towards mutual dialogue and cooperation in connection with any issues.” However, the head of the subcommittee, Russell Johnston, has met with the head of the Azeri delegation, Samid Seidov, who told the “APA” news agency that they had decided to discuss that issue during the PACE session in June. Johnston said that he didn’t know about the reasons the Armenian delegation had not taken part in the session. “I met with the Azeri delegation for only ten minutes. The Azeri delegation supports my initiative to visit the region. The Armenian delegation agrees with it too. I will visit Baku, Yerevan and Khankendi (Stepanakert),” he said, according to APA. Notwithstanding, according to “Trend” agency, Johnston said that the decision of the Armenian delegation not to take part in the session was a “not serious” step, furthermore, Samed Seidov said that it meant “political weakness”. Concerning these notes the NA speaker said, “Firstly, I think there is no need to interpret Samed Seidov’s foolishness. Secondly, the head of the subcommittee had to know about the reasons we had not participated, since we were still in Yerevan when they asked us about our participation, and we told them that it was impossible to take part in that session. This is the reality. As for the issue of why the secretary failed to inform Lord Russell Johnston about this, it is their own problem and it is up to them to find it out.”