YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–Levon Ter-Petrosyan met with representatives of the visiting delegation of Bundestag’s German-Caucasian group led by the vice-chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Interparliamentary Assembly Willy Wimmer.
Ter-Petrosyan presented Armenia’s position toward regional policies and the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. He also addressed problems of state building–particularly those of the establishment of a political system and the development of civil society–as well as economic reforms and reforms in the judicial system. The sides pointed out the important role Germany plays in strengthening peace and establishing a cooperative atmosphere in the region.
There are all preconditions now to extend cooperation between the Armenian and the German parliamen’s–as well as cooperation in other fields–Armenian Parliament Speaker Babken Ararktsian said when meeting with the German parliament delegation.
Wimmer handed over greetings addressed by Bundestag Chairwoman Rita Sussmut to the Armenian speaker–saying she hoped Ararktsian would visit Germany next year.
The sides also discussed issues related to the current socio-economic situation in Armenia–as well as those pertaining to the program of the current reforms in the Republic. Ararktsian told the German parliamentarians about the position of the National Assembly’s position toward the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict.
The German delegation was received by Armenia’s Prime Minister Robert Kocharian later that day. According to Wimmer–the goal of their visit was to examine the situation in Armenia–as well as exchange views and get explanations as to the regional tasks and problems.
The premier dwelt on the Karabakh settlement and problems of security in the region. Attaching great importance to the continuing truce–he stressed the need for strengthening it.
Kocharian also highly appreciated the attention the international community is paying to the region–which helps maintain peace there. According to him–there can be only a political solution to the Karabakh conflict–so speculations on the oil factor should be eliminated. At the same time Kocharian emphasized that it would be very hard to find a mutually acceptable solution without a direct dialogue between Karabakh and Azerbaijan.
Answering questions–Kocharian referred to the internal situation in the Republic–pointing out that the current programs–as well as economic and structural reforms carried out by the government are aimed at allowing Armenia to become a free–developed and democratic country.
Thereafter Wimmer and his party had a meeting with Armenia’s Foreign Minister Alexander Arzoumanian. The sides addressed the course of development of the OSCE Minsk process following the Lisbon Summit.
Wimmer holds that Germany’s goal is to ensure human rights in the region. He feels that the people of Nagorno-Karabakh should get as much as possible not according to Soviet standards but based on West European standards.
Arzoumanian highlighted that the Council of Europe and the European Union should continue their efforts aimed at turning Azerbaijan into a democratic state–which–in its turn–would promote the efficiency of the peace-making process.
The sides referred to the need to boost German investment in Armenia’s economy.