YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–The parliamentary delegation of Armenia led by Speaker Khosrov Haroutiunian attended the first meeting of the Armenia-Diaspora conference in Paris on March 30.
Around 150 delegates from all over the world representing most various political and public structures of Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora worldwide gathered to discuss preparations for the Pan-Armenian Forum scheduled to be held in Yerevan on September 22.
Also attending the conference were Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian–Armenia’s ambassadors to European countries.
Stressing the importance of boosting Armenia-Diaspora cooperation–Speaker Haroutiunian observed that favorable grounds for bettering the shattered relations between Armenia and the Diaspora and cooperation within the Diaspora itself for the welfare of Armenia had been established since the presidential elections of 1998.
On March 31–the Armenian legislators were received by French Senate Speaker Christian Ponslin.
The French legislator placed importance on the visit of Armenia’s parliament chairman at a very crucial moment for both countries.
Cooperation between the two countries has entered a new phase when broader economic ties become important–when Europe’s political thought needs to develop a new concept of European and global security. The sides stressed the need for developing components of parliamentary cooperation in interstate relations.
The Karabakh issue was also addressed during the meeting. The Speaker of the French Senate acknowledged that direct talks between Stepanakert and Baku would be an effective way to settle the dispute.
The Genocide Resolution became the main subject for discussion at the French Senate. Ponslin emphasized that a majority of senators–including himself–were unequivocally in favor of the recognition and condemnation of the greatest crime of early this century – the genocide of Armenia’s.
However–the issue has not yet become a subject for discussion as–according to him–the government had brought some argumen’s connected with the unwillingness to add tensions in the region.
He expressed the opinion that Turkish society also needs to admit the fact of the genocide to get rid of complexes. Ponslin hoped that it would be possible to gradually settle the problem by means of prudent steps.
The same day–at the National Assembly of France–Khosrov Haroutiunian met his French counterpart Laurent Fabius to discuss bilateral cooperation and additional details of the genocide recognition procedure at the French Senate.
During both meetings the sides also addressed the continuing Kosovo crisis and the situation in Yugoslavia. The sides spoke for guaranteed security and stability in Europe and a peaceful solution to the problem.