Basque Representative Calls for Artsakh Independence

[Yervant1]

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Tuesday, May 6th, 2014

 

Basque Representative Calls for Artsakh Independence

http://asbarez.com/App/Asbarez/eng/2014/05/basque.jpg

Member of the European Parliament Inaki Razabalbeitia Fernandez (center-left) and Member of the Spanish Parliament Iñárritu Garcia (center-right) at a press conference in Yerevan following a visit to Artsakh and Armenia. May 5, 2014. (Photo: Armenpress)

YEREVAN (ArmRadio)—The peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict through the realization of the right to self-determination is a most important issue, Member of the European Parliament Inaki Razabalbeitia Fernandez said in Yerevan on Tuesday. The Member of the European Parliament, representing the Basque Country of northern Spain, was on visit to Artsakh in the previous days.

Sharing his impressions from his visit, the legislator said his party (The Greens—European Free Alliance) has long been fighting for the independence of the Basque Country and will do the same for Nagorno Karabakh, asserting that “self-determination is the most important democratic right.”

“I think that raising the issue of recognition for Nagorno Karabakh’s independence in the European Parliament could be a first step,” Fernandez said. “Initiatives should come from all parties, including the OSCE Minsk Group.”

Asked about his thoughts on being “blacklisted” by Azerbaijan for visiting Artsakh, the Basque representative said his party has a very clear stance on all issues related to self-determination and they are not afraid of being included in Azerbaijan’s “black list.”

A member of the Spanish Parliament, Iñárritu Garcia, accompanied Fernandez on his trip to Armenia and Artsakh. Garcia told the Armenian press that they consider people’s right to self-determination as the utmost democratic right. Speaking of the visit to Nagorno Karabakh, he said: “We saw a country committed to European values, which is aspiring for new values, and is doing better than some Council of Europe member states.”

The European lawmakers stressed that the Nagorno Karabakh Republic should be recognized by the international community as in the case with Kosovo.

 

[gamavor]

Just like Turkey puts forward preconditions to have normal relations with Armenia after solving Artsakh issue, the same way Armenia should put forward preconditions to Azerbaidjan to return the excess land strip around Artsakh, when Turkey ratifies the Sevres treaty.

[gamavor]

Yet another precondition poped up in my mind. Azerbaidjanis should fully restore piece by piece the demolished cemetery in Nakhichevan which was well documented, filmed and presented to UNESCO as proof for Azerbaijanis vandalism.

[Yervant1]

Yet another precondition poped up in my mind. Azerbaidjanis should fully restore piece by piece the demolished cemetery in Nakhichevan which was well documented, filmed and presented to UNESCO as proof for Azerbaijanis vandalism.

I didn't know they had such skills to get the job done!!!!!!!!

[Yervant1]

16:47 12/09/2014 » POLITICS

Basque Parliament recognizes Nagorno-Karabakh self-determination

On Friday, September 12, 2014, a European Union regional parliament has, for the first time in history, adopted a motion supporting the self-determination of Nagorno-Karabakh following several official visits to the region that were organized by European Friends of Armenia (EuFoA) and the commitment of EuFoA contacts' network, EuFoA reported.
The motion adopted today by the Basque Parliament praises the strong determination of the Nagorno-Karabakh people in their choice for democracy, despite the hard and difficult situation. In addition, it states that Karabakhi people have the right to decide their own future, namely their self-determination, which is the fundamental element in any negotiation for the final settlement of the conflict. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of Nagorno-Karabakh's participation in the OSCE Minsk Group conflict resolution negotiations.
Nagorno-Karabakh's Foreign Minister, Karen Mirzoyan, with the assistance of European Friends of Armenia, travelled to the Basque Country on this occasion and had official visits, including meetings with Basque country government high officials, the head of the legislative, Ms Bakartxo Tejeria Otermin, and departmental and main local authorities, as well as companies with an interest in the region.
"I am particularly pleased by the acknowledgment of the democratic governance development of Nagorno-Karabakh and the recognition of the efforts they are doing in transposing EU legislation. The Nagorno-Karabakh society should be proud that their commitment for democracy as an inalienable part of the European space is not only recognized in the US, but also in the EU," says EuFoA Director Eduardo Lorenzo Ochoa.
The Basque country is one of Spain's 17 autonomous communities since 1979 and has a population of approximately 2.5 million people. It has its own executive and legislative institutions. The Basque government is among the sub-state governments that enjoys the highest level of competences in the European Union. Basque authorities are competent to lead policies in domains such as fiscal policy and tax collection or police management, having its own police force, among other more classic competences at regional level, such as health, education, from elementary schools to universities, or territorial development. Moreover, the Basque country has its own External Actions Service, at the head of a network of over 200 political and cultural delegations worldwide. From an economic point of view, the Basque country represents one of the European Union most developed areas, showing an annual GDP per capital of over 31 000€, 20 % higher than the EU average (25 700€).

Source: Panorama.am

[Yervant1]

Baboons react again!

 

BAKU TO PROTEST AGAINST BASQUE COUNTRY'S DECISION

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Sept 16 2014

16 September 2014, 12:10 (GMT+05:00)

By Sara Rajabova

Baku will protest the adoption of a motion on Nagorno-Karabakh by a
local provincial government in Basque Country, an autonomous community
in northern Spain.

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Spain Altay Efendiyev told Trend news agency
that Azerbaijan will send a note of protest to Spain with regard to
the adoption of the document.

He further said Azerbaijan studies the situation related to the Basque
parliament's document on Nagorno-Karabakh, which was occupied by the
Armenian armed forces in early 1990s.

Efendiyev said the embassy works to clarify the essence of the
issue, as yet it is unclear what wording was used in the document,
and whether the self-determination or independence rights of the
so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" is recognized or not.

He noted that the embassy requested a meeting with the head of the
autonomous community's government, adding that the dates will be
defined soon.

The embassy will send a letter to the president of the Basque Country,
demanding an explanation.

Earlier, Armenian media reported that Basque Country's parliament
adopted the motion about right for self-determination of
Nagorno-Karabakh, which is historical Azerbaijani territory.

Armenia occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally
recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent
regions, after laying territorial claims against its South Caucasus
neighbor that caused a brutal war in the early 1990s. Long-standing
efforts by U.S, Russian and French mediators have been largely
fruitless so far.

As a result of the military aggression of Armenia, over 20,000
Azerbaijanis were killed, 4,866 are reported missing and almost
100,000 were injured, and 50,000 were disabled.

The UN Security Council has passed four resolutions on Armenian
withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory, but they have not been
enforced to this day.

http://www.azernews.az/azerbaijan/70774.html

 

[Yervant1]

Navarre parliament panel says Artsakh must take part in talks

November 8, 2014 - 14:16 AMT


PanARMENIAN.Net - The Board of Spokespersons of the Parliament of
Navarre (autonomous community in northern Spain) has issued a
statement calling on the international community and specifically the
OSCE Minsk Group and the European Union to take steps for resolving
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict through peaceful and democratic means.

The Board of Spokespersons is an administrative body which assists the
Committee of the House and in which the Parliamentary Groups are
represented by their Spokesperson. It participates in the formation of
political resolutions considered deserving of parliamentary work and
affairs. The decisions taken by the Board of Spokespersons are adopted
by means of a system of measured vote by which each Spokesperson has
as many votes as his/her group has parliamentarians. This body is
responsible, among other things, for approving the budgets and
accounts of the House and for formulating institutional statements.

According to NKR Foreign Ministry's report, the statement emphasizes
the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh should participate in the
negotiation process of any format. The council also hailed Artsakh
people's adherence to democratic principles.

On Sept 12, a motion supporting the self-determination of Nagorno
Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic was adopted by the Basque Parliament. The
motion praises the strong determination of the Nagorno Karabakh people
in their choice for democracy, despite the hard and difficult
situation. In addition, it states that the people of Karabakh have the
right to decide their own future, namely their self-determination,
which is the fundamental element in any negotiation for the final
settlement of the conflict. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance
of Nagorno Karabakh's participation in the OSCE Minsk Group conflict
resolution negotiations.

A day earlier, a similar document was adopted by the province of
Gipuzkoa, one of the three provinces of the Basque Country.

On Jan 28, 2014, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously adopted a
resolution recognizing the independence of Nagorno Karabakh Republic.
The motion was introduced by Councilmember Paul Krekorian.

On April 23, 2013, Fresno County became the first County in California
to officially recognize the independence of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic (Artsakh). The Board of Supervisors passed a resolution
sponsored by Supervisor Andreas Borgeas that officially recognizes the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic and also calls upon the California
Legislature to grant official recognition.

On May 30, 2013, the Louisiana State Senate adopted a resolution
saluting the Nagorno Karabakh Republic's independence and urging the
U.S. president and Congress "to support the self-determination and
democratic independence" of this developing democratic state.

On Aug 6, 2012, the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts adopted a resolution urging President Barack Obama and
the United States legislature to "support the self-determination and
democratic independence" of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

On Oct 24, 2012, the Legislative Council of Australia's New South
Wales Parliament adopted, a resolution recognizing the Republic of
Nagorno Karabakh and the right to self-determination of its Armenian
people. The motion acknowledges the 20th anniversary of independence
for the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, it supports the right to
self-determination of its people, and it "calls on the Commonwealth
Government [of Australia] to officially recognize the independence of
the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh and strengthen Australia's
relationship with the Nagorno Karabakh and its citizens".

http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/184591/Navarre_parliament_panel_says_Artsakh_must_take_part_in_talks

http://www.parlamentodenavarra.es/57/section.aspx?idnoticia=6038