Reply to Recommendation 1263 (1994) on the humanitarian situation of refugees and displaced persons in Armenia and Azerbaijan

25 April 1995

Doc. 7293

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS

Reply to Recommendation 1263 (1994) on the humanitarian situation of refugees and displaced persons in Armenia and Azerbaijan

(adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 20 April 1995 at the 535th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies)

The Committee of Ministers examined with interest Recommendation 1263 (1995) on the humanitarian situation of refugees and displaced persons in Armenia and Azerbaijan, adopted by the Standing Committee acting on behalf of the Parliamentary Assembly on 15 March 1995, and decided to bring it to the attention of the Governments of the member states.

The Committee of Ministers wishes to assure the Parliamentary Assembly that it shares its concern about the situation of the victims of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. With reference to its reply to Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1251 (1995) on the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Committee of Ministers stresses its commitment to solving conflicts by peaceful means and to introducing confidence-building measures in high-risk regions. It particularly welcomes the efforts at mediation undertaken in the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

The matter of future closer links between the Council of Europe and Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia was addressed in the reply of the Committee of Ministers to Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1247 (1995) on the enlargement of the Council of Europe. The Committee of Ministers' position is in line with the conclusions of the Chair of the special meeting held in Istanbul in September 1992, stating that a significantly closer relationship with the three Transcaucasian countries "would demand not only the implementation of substantial democratic reforms but also (the) commitment (of these countries) to resolve conflicts by peaceful means".

Like the Parliamentary Assembly, the Committee of Ministers is anxious to anchor Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to the principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. In this spirit, in March 1995, it instructed the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to develop his contacts in the Transcaucasian region. This decision was taken with a view to assessing the situation in the three countries of the region and establishing an appropriate schedule for opening constructive political dialogue with each of the Governments involved. Such dialogue would clarify these countries' needs and the Council of Europe's scope for action in a spirit of complementarity with the competent international organisations, inter alia in the humanitarian field.

In connection with recourse to the Emergency Account of the Council of Europe's Social Development Fund, the Committee of Ministers would inform the Parliamentary Assembly that it has transmitted the text of the Recommendation to the Fund's Governing Body.

The Committee of Ministers will of course forward to the Assembly any further relevant information it receives, including the possible reply from the Governing Body of the Social Development Fund.