On June 4 RA National Assembly Chairman Artur Baghdasaryan received the delegation headed by OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Chairman’s Special Representative on Nagorno Karabakh Goran Lennmarker.

The NA Chairman attached importance to Nagorno Karabakh’s involvement in the conflict settlement process, establishing viable relations between all South Caucasus states with the participation of all public institutions and the region’s integration in Europe. Nations inhabiting the region are looking forward to the establishment of peace and friendship, while the entire world treats the South Caucasus as an integral market with all emanate requirements, the sides stressed.

Mr. Lennmarker highlighted the Parliaments’ input in establishing peace and efficient cooperation. The visit to Karabakh the OSCE official conditioned by the necessity to look into the problems on the scene, meet people. Mr. Lennmarker stressed the priority given to the refugees’ issue and credited the initiative of the South Caucasus Parliaments and partnership with the Baltic States, which can render positive help in terms of the integration into Europe.

The sides addressed other issues of mutual interest over the course of the meeting.

Mr. Lennmarker also met Vahan Hovhannisyan, NA Vice Speaker, head of the Armenian delegation at the OSCE PA.

Mr. Lennmarker stressed his mission is to assist the OSCE Minsk Group in finding the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. This is his first visit to Nagorno Karabakh, the OSCE official pointed out. The South Caucasus states should also be involved in the “EU – New Neighbours” project, Mr. Lennmarker said emphasizing the Parliament’s role in that matter. Turkey’s adhesion to the European Union will be discussed in December.

Mr. Hovhannisyan commended OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Chairman’s Special Representative on Nagorno Karabakh mission, for Mr. Lennmarker’s report will become a working paper for the OSCE whose experience in the conflict settlement can’t be overestimated. OSCE Minsk Groups recommendation on the conflict settlement become more viable and grounded, the NA Vice Speaker said adding he sees no alternatives to the peaceful, fair and objective resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Turkey should try to exercise unbiased and not-unilateral stand on the settlement of the conflict, for objectivity is among focal indices for the adhesion to the European family. Meanwhile, major European countries managed to remain unbiased during the discussions of the conflict.

Gagik Yeagnyan, the head of the Department for Migration and Refugees adjunct to the RA Government, briefed the guest on the legal and social status of forcibly displaced 360,000 Armenian refugees evicted during the 1988-1992 stressing that 65,000 refugees received the RA citizenship, the government implements target social-economic policy, refugees issue is included in the poverty reduction strategy paper. The program seeking to provide 3,740 families residing in public institutions with apartments is underway, the program is estimated at $18m with $5m to be allocated from the budget. Armenians evicted from Azeri cities are reluctant to return to their former habitats due to security concerns while refugees from Lowland Karabakh are looking forward to returning home. Mr. Yeganyan handed the package on refugees’ problems and target programs to Mr. Lennmarker.

Mr. Lennmarker and Vahan Hovhannisyan, NA Vice Speaker, head of the Armenian delegation at the OSCE PA left for Nagorno Karabakh after the meeting.