`We were happy to see a people, who are very courageous and devoted to
democratic values'
http://www.yerkirmedia.am/?act=news&lan=en&id=7400
12:21 . 28/05
After French Senators Sophie Joissains, Phillippe Marini and Bernard
Fournier visited Stepanakert, before they would reach Yerevan, their
future way to Baku in any case was already closed.
Azerbaijan's decision to declare the Senators persona no grata was not
a surprise for them and didn't worry them much. They say they have
responded to the invitation of NKR's authorities and taking into
consideration the fact that France is one of OSCE MG co-chairing
countries, they decided to see with their own eyes what is going
there.
`As we know the territory is not closed and many other parliamentary
delegations have visited there before us and we think that the French
Senate can also be its part and see personally what is going there,'
this is the answer of the French Senator in a briefing in Yerevan.
Before that in Artsakh they had meetings with NKR's leadership and
representatives of the civil society. And they have powerful
impressions.
`We were happy to see a people in that country, who are very
courageous and devoted to democratic values and who work despite the
difficult conditions. The Armenian population has been living in that
territory for centuries and the people of that country will do their
best for the country to live in peace, be as much harmonious as before
that,' this is Senator Joissains's opinion.
The RA president has also highly praised the Senators' visit to
Artsakh during their reception in the presidential seat. He expressed
confidence that unbiased and comprehensive understanding of the issue
is a key prerequisite for the resolution of the NK conflict.
Serzh Sargsyan underscored that numerous visits on the parliamentary
level promote the understanding on behalf of the international
community that the people of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, just
like other nations in the world, have the right to master their own
destiny, to live free and secure on their own land.
The Senators noted that their visit to Artsakh was pretty useful and
now they know in detail the history of the NK conflict and hail
Armenia's constructive position at the peace negotiations.
In Yerevan the Senators first visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial to the
Armenian Genocide victims, paid a tribute to their memory. The
Senators are sure that the bill criminalizing the denial of the
genocide will be adopted in France. The French newly elected president
Francois Hollande will pursue its adoption.
Their impressions will later turn into political speeches in the
French parliament.