AZERBAIJAN REFUSES TO ATTEND EURONEST PA SESSION IN ARMENIA
14:40, 16 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
Azerbaijan does not participate in the 4th Ordinary Session of Euronest
Parliamentary Assembly in Yerevan.
"Azerbaijan's refusal to participate in the session shows the
country's attitude towards Euronest, not Armenia," Artak Zakaryan,
Head of Armenia's delegation to Euronest PA, told Public Radio of
Armenia after the session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly and
Civil Society in Yerevan.
"Azerbaijan has sent several explanatory letters to the Euronest
leadership to justify it decision not to attend the session. Among
the reason they have mentioned the European Parliament's criticism
of the pressure against civil society in the country, the Karabakh
conflict, etc. I'm confident that representatives of Azerbaijani civil
society have simply been banned from visiting Armenia. This reflects
Azerbaijan's attitude towards Euronest, not Armenia, and the European
Parliament has to make conclusions," Artak Zakaryan.
Before the plenary session scheduled for March 17, representatives
of civil society from across the Eastern Partnership (EaP) region,
Members of the European Parliament and parliamentarians from partner
countries came together today to take stock of the achievements and
challenges of the EaP policy.
The event examined the new strategic context in the region, individual
countries' aspirations, the successes and failures of the EaP to
promote reform and democratization, and the contribution that civil
society, the European Parliament and national parliaments can make
to drive and monitor the reform process.
In the run up to the Riga Eastern Partnership Summit and the ongoing
comprehensive review of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), the
event also aimed to propose ideas for the reconsideration of the EU's
regional policy, its underpinnings and tools.
The issue of Azerbaijan's absence was discussed at the forum, as well.
The participants stressed that the civil society representatives
should not miss the opportunity of joint discussions, irrespective
of the problems existing between the two countries.
"The issue was discussed at the Euronest Bureau. A letter urging
Azerbaijan to review its decision was sent to Baku, but they chose
not to participate," said Krzysztof Bobinski, Co-Chair of the EaP
Civil Society Forum Steering Committee.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/03/16/azerbaijan-refuses-to-attend-euronest-pa-session-in-armenia/
14:40, 16 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
Azerbaijan does not participate in the 4th Ordinary Session of Euronest
Parliamentary Assembly in Yerevan.
"Azerbaijan's refusal to participate in the session shows the
country's attitude towards Euronest, not Armenia," Artak Zakaryan,
Head of Armenia's delegation to Euronest PA, told Public Radio of
Armenia after the session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly and
Civil Society in Yerevan.
"Azerbaijan has sent several explanatory letters to the Euronest
leadership to justify it decision not to attend the session. Among
the reason they have mentioned the European Parliament's criticism
of the pressure against civil society in the country, the Karabakh
conflict, etc. I'm confident that representatives of Azerbaijani civil
society have simply been banned from visiting Armenia. This reflects
Azerbaijan's attitude towards Euronest, not Armenia, and the European
Parliament has to make conclusions," Artak Zakaryan.
Before the plenary session scheduled for March 17, representatives
of civil society from across the Eastern Partnership (EaP) region,
Members of the European Parliament and parliamentarians from partner
countries came together today to take stock of the achievements and
challenges of the EaP policy.
The event examined the new strategic context in the region, individual
countries' aspirations, the successes and failures of the EaP to
promote reform and democratization, and the contribution that civil
society, the European Parliament and national parliaments can make
to drive and monitor the reform process.
In the run up to the Riga Eastern Partnership Summit and the ongoing
comprehensive review of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), the
event also aimed to propose ideas for the reconsideration of the EU's
regional policy, its underpinnings and tools.
The issue of Azerbaijan's absence was discussed at the forum, as well.
The participants stressed that the civil society representatives
should not miss the opportunity of joint discussions, irrespective
of the problems existing between the two countries.
"The issue was discussed at the Euronest Bureau. A letter urging
Azerbaijan to review its decision was sent to Baku, but they chose
not to participate," said Krzysztof Bobinski, Co-Chair of the EaP
Civil Society Forum Steering Committee.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/03/16/azerbaijan-refuses-to-attend-euronest-pa-session-in-armenia/