On December 16 in the National Assembly OSCE Secretary General Mr Marc Perrin de Brichambeau met with the representatives of parliamentary factions. Head of OSCE Yerevan Office, Ambassador Mr Sergey Kapinos, Ambassador of Hellenic Republic to Armenia Mr Ioannis Korintios attended the meeting.

At the meeting the sides discussed issues regarding the Karabakh problem settlement, regional problems and ongoing reforms in Armenia.

Touching upon the session of OSCE Ministers Council held in Helsinki, OSCE Secretary General Mr Marc Perrin de Brichambeau considered as positive result the statement unanimously adopted by all 56-member states on the peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict. In his opinion, the statement would not be adopted unanimously, if not the work of the delegations of Armenia and Azerbaijan and the relevant position of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. Mr Brichambeau considered important that in the conditions of international situation positive inclination exists, which will create opportunity to ensure inclusive and comprehensive peaceful settlement according to Madrid principles. He expressed hope that the developments will give opportunity in order the sides would promote the settlement of the issue with their efforts. The OSCE Secretary General highly assessed the steps taken by RA President in the direction of organizing political dialogues and discussions for the settlement on the willingness of holding a referendum. In his conviction, the peaceful settlement and the solution of the political problems depend on the circumstance of being accepted by all political forces. He underlined that in this respect Armenia was in the leading positions and expressed hope that the opposite side also would display willingness in this issue.

Head of the RPA Faction Mr Galust Sahakyan noted that the RPA was a supporter of peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict, and he saw the solution of the problem from the viewpoint of the right of the nations’ self-determination, which in the international sphere became also of priority. Mr Sahakyan noted that Karabakh gained its independence, and the Constitution adopted through referendum. In his word, all democratic structures act in Karabakh, and the NKR is more democratice compared with many republics of the former USSR. Mr Sahakyan noted that all political forces of Armenia had the same approaches over the conflict settlement.

Head of PAP Faction Mr Aram Safaryan assessed the last developments of the Karabakh issue settlement process as a progress, highlighting in this context the Moscow agreement and the Declaration of Helsinki. Mr Safaryan sees the settlement of the Karabakh problem by retaining the three main principles. Karabakh shall get the right of establishing an independent state, Karabakh must have common land guarnteed border with Armenia, and the Karabakh people shall get internationally guaranteed right of residing in its country. Mr Safaryan highlighted the settlement of the issue within the OSCE format. In the context of the settlement of the Karabakh problem Mr Safaryan highlighted the conduct of the Armenian-Turkish dialogue.

Head of Country of Law Faction Mrs Heghine Bisharyan welcomed the policy pursued by RA President Mr Serzh Sargsyan in the direction of the settlement of the problem, highlighting in this respect the signing of the Moscow agreement, which during the last 14 years was the only document signed on the Karabakh problem settlement. The initiative of holding discussions on the settlement of the problem of the President of the republic together with the heads of the parties was highlighted. The Country of Law Party reaffirms its position of the peaceful solution of the problem through compromises: in this context, considering necessary to ensure the problem of the NKR status, the land border of Karabakh with Armenia and international guarantees.

Secretary of ARFD Faction Mr Artyusha Shahbazyan highlighted the ongoing negotiations, noting that the peaceful settlement of the problem had no alternative. In his word, the negotiations showed that Armenia displayed its inclination of compromises, peaceful solutions, and the negotiating other side Azerbaijan was spreading misinformation at the same time, speaking from the positions of force on solving the problem, and promised its public that the issue would be solved without compromises. In these conditions Mr Shabazyan does not believe in the fluent and quick solution of the issue. In the understanding of the ARFD stable guarantees are necessary for not breaking the disagreements, and the package solution will become a base for the settlement. Mr Shahbazyan highlighted the participation of the NKR authorities in the negotiating process.

To the conviction of the Head of Heritage Faction Mr Armen Martirosyan the establishment of Karabakh as an independent state is a fact. In his opinion the Karabakh problem is the only one, which has not only a political solution, but also a legal solution. In Karabakh they succeeded to create democratic institutes, which completely control the law enforcement bodies. The Karabakh people created the most democratic country in the region. To the conviction of the Heritage Faction, Karabakh will also take part in the negotiation process decide its future destiny. Touching upon the problem of the refugees permanently going on by Azerbaijan, Mr Martirosyan noted that, in contrast to the Armenian refugees, the Azerbaijani refugees had an opportunity to sell their property and flats in Armenia. And the 450.000 flats that the Armenians left the Azerbaijani authorities could give the Azerbaijani refugees, instead of building camps for them.

In the end Mr Brichambeau noted that the last developments created favourable opportunity for solving the issue through peaceful negotiations, highly assessing the efforts of RA President Mr Serzh Sargsyan in this direction. To his conviction, the peaceful settlement of the issue will give opportunity for the development of the economic and political development.

At the meeting other issues of bilateral interest were discussed too.