The President of the RA National Assembly Ararat Mirzoyan met with the Rapporteur of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Paul Gavan.

Welcoming the guest, the President of the National Assembly has underlined that the Armenian side gives great importance to PACE and highly assesses the discussion held in this organisation on Artsakh and Armenian prisoners of war.

Ararat Mirzoyan touched upon the military crimes committed by Azerbaijan during 44-day war, the non-fulfillment of the obligation by Azerbaijan on returning prisoners of war and other detained persons stipulated by tripartite statement, the continuing Armenophobic policy by official Baku, and the opening of the ill-famed park was one of its last manifestations. The Speaker of Parliament has also presented to the Rapporteur information about invasion to the RA territory by the Azerbaijani armed forces, adding that in the last days it has not announced beforehand in due order about the military exercises held in Azerbaijan, which is another most gross violation of international law.

Paul Gavan thanked Ararat Mirzoyan for reception and the support provided in organising the fact-finding works in Armenia and assured that the preparing report that should be submitted to PACE, would reflect the existing reality.

Ararat Mirzoyan has affirmed with pain that the Azerbaijani side creates problems for the Rapporteur’s visit to Artsakh, then he has expressed conviction that there will not be grey zones in the PACE territory, and it is necessary to get familiarized with violation of the Artsakh Armenians’ rights on the very spot.

In response to Paul Gavan’s question, the President of the National Assembly has noted that the Armenian side sees the final settlement of the conflict in the only format with international mandate – in the frameworks of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship, when Azerbaijan returns all Armenian prisoners of war and other detained persons, will drive out the armed forces from the territory of Armenia and will end the implementing Armenophobic policy.