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From March 31 to April 1 the Chairman of RA NA Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs Hrayr Karapetyan took part in the seminar within the framework of the program Partnership for Peace of NATO in Geneva on The Role of the Parliaments in the Control of Armament, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, which jointly organized the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, NATO, the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) and the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of the Armed Forces (DCAF). Hrayr Karapetyan presented details to the reporters at April 5 press conference.

40 MPs from about 25 countries took part in the seminar. During the seminar the representatives of Turkey and Azerbaijan, deviating from the theme of the seminar, touched upon the issues of the work of the operating Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) and the construction work of the NPP being built, noting that the work of the NPP in the seismic zone was a matter of concern for the whole region, and called on to shut down the NPP.  They called on the USA and the European Union not to support the construction of the new NPP and not to finance it.

In his speech he touched upon those speculations, noting that the functioning NPP corresponded with the international standards of security and closely cooperated with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

In response to the speech of the Turkish MP Mr Karapetyan noted that Armenia being imposed lasting blockade by Turkey and Azerbaijan, had to seek alternative sources, including also the relying on atomic energy. He noted that Turkey being in the seismic zone on March 16 reached an agreement to build an NPP.

Referring to the problem of Nagorno Karabakh in the speech of Azerbaijani MP RA NA deputy noted that the OSCE Minsk Group was involved in the settlement of the conflict, in the framework of which negotiations were going on for its peaceful regulation. He expressed his concern in relation to Azerbaijan’s intensive armament, which creates threat of war for the region. NATO member Turkey also supplies arms to Azerbaijan. Mr Karapetyan underlined that using its oil resources Azerbaijan increased almost 10 times its military budget compared with Armenia’s military budget, which is inadmissible. Mr Karapetyan believes that the international community should form relevant atmosphere towards such work style.

In his speech the Chairman of the NA Standing Committee highlighted the role of the parliaments in the issue of the peaceful settlement of the conflicts, as well as in not allowing armament race. He noted that the neighboring countries, instead of negotiating over the peaceful settlement of the problem made bellicose statements. After Mr Karapetyan’s speech representatives of numerous delegations, except representatives of Turkey and Azerbaijan, welcomed the balanced stance of the Armenian side and expressed willingness for cooperation.