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On June 19 the NATO PA Rose-Roth Seminar continued the work. Julio Miranda Calha, General Rapporteur, NATO PA Defence and Security Committee moderated the session. The key theme was Nagorno Karabakh: The Role of Mediation, on which Ashot Hovakimian, the RA Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivered a speech. He presented the process of the NK conflict settlement and steps taken. Mr Hovakimian has underlined that the OSCE encourages the participant countries to be deprived of the use of force, taking as a basis the UN Charter and following the principles of the Helsinki Act. The Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group had contribution to the strengthening of the negotiation process and its further maintenance. Touching upon the settlement of the problem on the basis of Madrid principles, the Deputy Minister has noted that Azerbaijan has refused adopting the Madrid principles, considering the document unreal and wrongly commenting its content. The Co-Chairs focused on three main principles: exclusion of the use of force, territorial integrity and execution of the right to self-determination. The Deputy Minister has underlined that Azerbaijan has refuted all the main principles concerning the NK conflict, which have been proposed by the Co-chairs. Armenia, unlike Azerbaijan, always has supported the implementation of the events of mutual trust and security, which can create favourable conditions for negotiations. The Deputy Foreign Minister has opined that the Armenian side is for the Co-chairs' view that the use of force cannot solve the conflict in any way, and it is necessary to create joint possibilities for the settlement of the problem. “At the moment, when the Azerbaijani authorities understand that, the conflict will be settled,” Mr Hovakimian said.

Mr Hovakimian’s speech followed the speech by Zaur Shiriyev, Academy Robert Bosch Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House, United Kingdom. To his assessment, there is no alternative for the Minsk Group Co-chairs, as it is the only format, which, despite various comments, implements its work. Mr Shiriyev has underlined that the oral agreements reached between the two sides should be turned into frame agreement, which can be a fundamental document providing the signing of the peace agreement between the sides. Referring to the enlargement of the Minsk Group the speaker has stated that the thing is the change of the Minsk Group format. He noted that today the schedule of the negotiations is not clear, if it were more distinct, it would help the sides to meet more frequently, have discussions and reach agreements.

Laurence Broers, Caucasus Programme Associate, Conciliation Resources, delivered a speech within the framework of the theme. He has underscored that the peaceful activity of the OSCE Minsk Group is effective in the region, despite the voicing criticism. Talking about the longevity of the Madrid principles Mr Broers has stated that they propose certain intermediary status for the NK before making a decision of final status through referendum, which is still vague. To his evaluation, in reality the societies do not agree with the Madrid principles. The speaker opined that in bilateral negotiations not only the Foreign Ministers of the two countries should be involved. He highlighted the holding of the bilateral meetings not only abroad, but also in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh.

Jacques Faure, Former Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, in his speech has noted that despite the international tension, the USA, France and Russia continue assuming the role of mediator in the settlement of the NK conflict and try to do their best in order the international situation will not have an impact on the work of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs. He presented the achievements that were recorded during the Co-chairs’ activities. In response to the voiced views that the work schedule of the Minsk Group is not distinct, Mr Faure has stated that it is formed, taking as a basis the schedule of the Foreign Ministers of the countries. It has been noted that France continues making efforts in the peaceful settlement of the problem. The former Co-chair, as an obstacle of the settlement of the problem, has indicated the lack or the absence of the trust between the two sides and highlighted the availability of the political will and readiness of the compromises. In his word, Azerbaijan hopes that the factor of time will give an opportunity to get benefit from demographic non-discrepancies in the region. Mr Faure also touched upon the armament race existing in the region and in this context talked about the year by year increase of the budget allocations of Azerbaijan’s defence. The speaker has underlined that Armenia in the process of the NK conflict settlement insists on full compliance with such international principles, as the exclusion of the use of force, the peoples’ self-determination and territorial integrity, and Azerbaijan is focused only on one international right, the principle of territorial integrity.

During the Q & A session the reporters touched upon the seminar participants’ interpellations, which related to the NK participation in the negotiating process, the Madrid principles, the meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan held in Kazan, the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group. The Deputy Foreign Minister Ashot Hovakimian once again has reaffirmed that the RA is for the implementation of the steps directed to the mutual trust and strengthening of security, and in this issue supports the Minsk Group Co-chairs’ recommendations.

At the fourth session, which moderated Ojars Erisk Kalnins, General Rapporteur of the NATO PA Political Committee, the theme NATO’s Partnerships in the South Caucasus was discussed.

Steffen Elgersma, Senior Expert, Euro-Atlantic Integration & Partnership, NATO HQ took the floor. He noted that through the cooperation of the three partner countries with NATO certain tendencies had become visible. According to him, the NATO ally states wish to see how to forecast stability in the concrete crisis parts of the use of military force. Besides, it is also obvious that the three countries, taking different strategic directions, try to find in a special way working security policy, which can be composed of different factors. The Senior Expert Steffen Elgersma has stated that apart from the issues about regional security, the issues concerning the inner reforms are at the centre of attention. In parallel with the discussions on implementing reforms in the judicial-legal system of Armenia, the NATO experts tried to work out programs of struggling corruption, as well as cooperation with the mass media. In Mr Elgersma’s word, it will give an opportunity to understand where it is possible to advance more democratic levers in the sphere of security.

David Shahnazaryan, Senior Analyst, Regional Studies Center (RSC) has also highlighted Armenia-NATO cooperation, noting that Armenia, being a CSTO member, deepens its relations with the European Union and NATO. Mr Shahnazaryan has announced that he backs the process of Armenia’s deepening relations with the European Union and NATO, expressing confidence that the NATO is ready for that. He also emphasized the role of NATO in Armenia-Iran relations.

In his speech Ghia Nodia, Chairman, Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development Professor, Director of the International School of Caucasus Studies, Ilia Chavchavadze State University, Tbilisi, has stated that Georgia still does not know when it will join the NATO. In his word, the Georgians doubt, taking as a basis the fact that cooperating for a long time with the European Union, Turkey is not an EU member. Mr Nodia has noted that having no alternative they have nothing but to be armed with strategic patience. Talking about security, Ghia Nodia has noted that perhaps after joining the NATO Georgia will have 100 per cent guarantee of security, but on the way to the accession it is not yet 100 per cent.

Simon Lunn, Former Secretary General of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and Senior Fellow, Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), Senior Associate, Geneva Centre for Security Policy, moderated the fifth session and presented the role of the parliaments in the implementation of the reforms and defensive policy of the sphere of security being part of the NATO working agenda. The participants discussed the theme Building Integrity as Part of Defence Reform in Armenia.

Ara Nazaryan, the RA Deputy Minister of Defence touched the Armenian experience of building integrity. To Mr Nazaryan’s assessment, the integrity is an instrument of big importance, which can help some states to refuse the actions of aggressive character. It has been noted that the RA Ministry of Defence has an aim at completely getting involved with the building integrity program. To the Deputy Minister’s conviction, the anti-corruption efforts serve as a precondition of successful reforms, but in making the reforms the anti-corruption strategy cannot be an effective instrument for so long, as it is not mingled with the roles of ethics, new way of thinking and leadership and the deepened perception of the assumed obligations.

Richard Giragosian, Director Regional Studies Center (RSC), in his speech has noted that the building integrity is an important part of the RA defensive reforms and has added that Armenia has recorded considerable progress in terms of military education. In the context of building integrity he touched upon the steps aimed at the transparency of defensive reforms, the strategic vision, the civil control, accountability and prevention of corruption.

The main speakers referred to the issues concerning the session participants. Richard Giragosian has documented that being an EEU member Armenia is ready to deepen the relations with NATO, as well as with the Western partner countries.

At the next, sixth session the theme Closed borders: Challenges for Economic Development, Stability and Peace was discussed. Beatriz Rodriguez-Salmones, Vice-Chairwoman, NATO PA Political Committee moderated the session and considered the South Caucasus a region gradually turning into closed borders.

In his speech Alexander Iskandaryan, Director of the Caucasus Institute, also noted that the South Caucasus is more a separated region, the main reason of which serve the non-regulated conflicts. He has stated that it is easier for the citizen of Armenia to travel to the USA than to Azerbaijan, and Georgia more easily gets informed about Germany, than about Russia. To Mr Iskandaryan’s assessment, the borders of partially recognized and non-recognized countries have become non-penetrable obstacles for the citizens and an opportunity for the snipers. Armenia has closed borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan because of the NK issue, and the NKR in its turn has closed borders with its neighbors, except Armenia.

Amanda Paul, Senior Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre, noted that during 20 years the closed borders had a bad economic impact on the region. The Senior Analyst as an example has presented Armenia, noting that the most important country for Armenia is Georgia, as the export from Armenia is mainly implemented through Georgia.

Agreeing with the views voiced by the previous speakers Burcu Gültekin Punsmann, Program Coordinator, International Affairs, Intra-and Inter-Societal Sources of Instability in the Caucasus and EU Opportunities to Respond (ISSICEU) - Senior Researcher, Ankara Policy Center, has noted that оn principle she is against the closed borders, blockades and economic punitive measures. She has presented her opinion about the problem of transparency of the border, the economic ties between the two countries, the influence of the opening of borders on goods turnover. In the context of the Armenian-Turkish protocols Mrs Punsmann has documented that after the elections in Turkey a new government is formed.

Koryun Nahapetyan, Head of the Delegation of Armenia to the NATO PA, the member of the Delegation Tevan Poghosyan, the NA deputy Mher Shahgeldyan and Steffen Elgersma, Senior Expert, Euro-Atlantic Integration & Partnership, NATO HQ were interested in the elections held in Turkey, the role of Russia and Azerbaijan in the Armenian-Turkish relations, the external and inner policy, on which the main rapporteurs presented their positions.

The Rose-Roth Seminar will wound up its work on June 20.