COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS Supplementary reply to Recommendation 1263 (1995) on the humanitarian situation of the refugees and displaced persons in Armenia and Azerbaijan

Doc. 7690
29 October 1996

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS Supplementary reply to Recommendation 1263 (1995) on the humanitarian situation of the refugees and displaced persons in Armenia and Azerbaijan

(adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 17 October 1996 at the 575th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies)

The Committee of Ministers recalls that, in its reply to Recommendation 1263 (1995) on the humanitarian situation of the refugees and displaced persons in Armenia and Azerbaijan, it informed the Parliamentary Assembly that it had instructed the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to develop his contacts in the Transcaucasian region, a decision 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.

Further to that reply (adopted at the 535th meeting of the Deputies (April 1995)), the Committee of Ministers has the honour to inform the Parliamentary Assembly that the humanitarian situation of refugees and displaced persons in these countries has been raised at the following meetings, directly or indirectly:

1. By the Committee of Ministers with the Governing Body of the Social Development Fund, whose then Chairman (July 1995), Mr Romeo dalla Chiesa, wrote, following the transmission of Recommendation 1263, to assure the Committee of Ministers of the full availability of the Governing Body to co-operate in the problems of assistance to refugees and displaced persons within the limits of the statutory aims and modalities, as well as available resources. The "Emergency account", referred to in the Recommendation, has since been superseded by a more flexible "Selective Trust Account", normally reserved for member States, but used once for the exceptional case of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

2. At senior official level in Yerevan (10-13 October 1995) and, when a delegation from Baku visited Strasbourg (27-28 November 1995).

3. By the Ministers' Deputies in their political dialogue with the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Azerbaijan, on 8 March and 5 June 1996 respectively (as well as that of Georgia on 13 May 1996).

4. By the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, Mr Siim Kallas, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Estonia, together with the Secretary General, when they held talks at the highest level in Baku (12-13 July 1996) and Yerevan (15-16 July 1996), as well as Tbilisi on 14 and 15 July 1996. During the visit to the capital of Azerbaijan (as well as that of Georgia), an application for membership of the Council of Europe was received, which was subsequently transmitted to the Assembly for opinion (Resolution (96) 32 of 11 September 1996), following that adopted (Resolution (96) 21 of 15 May 1996) concerning the application of Armenia.

The Committee of Ministers reaffirms its hope that the conflicts be solved by peaceful means, including by introducing confidence-building measures in high-risk regions, as well as its support for the efforts at mediation undertaken in the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

It is also encouraged by the Joint Communiqué (which appears in the Appendix below), issued in Luxembourg on 21 April 1996, in which the respective Presidents Levon Ter-Petrossian and Heydar Aliyev reconfirmed their commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Nagorny-Karabagh conflict and to the cease-fire which has held for almost two years and which must be maintained until the signing of the Political Agreement.

Finally, the Committee of Ministers welcomes the fact that the Parliaments of both countries (as well as that of Georgia) now enjoy Special Guest status with the Parliamentary Assembly.

Appendix to the supplementary reply

to Recommendation 1263 (1995) of the Parliamentary Assembly

on the humanitarian situation of the refugees

and displaced persons in Armenia and Azerbaijan

JOINT COMMUNIQUE

BY THE PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

The Presidents of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan met in Luxembourg in conjunction with the signing by Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia of their bilateral Agreements of Partnership and Co-operation with the European Union.

The discussions were frank and constructive.

Mr. Levon Ter-Petrossian and Mr. Heydar Aliyev reconfirmed their commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Nagorny Karabagh conflict and to the cease-fire which has held for almost two years and which must be maintained until the signing of the Political Agreement.

The two Presidents further agreed that the resolution of the conflict must be based on internationally recognized principles and norms relevant to the conflict; that negotiations within the Minsk Group of the OSCE must continue in order to ensure the signing of the Political Agreement; and the direct dialogue between the parties must be intensified to facilitate the comprehensive resolution of the conflict.

Presidents Ter-Petrossian and Aliyev also agreed that the resolution of the conflict will contribute significantly to the stability and security of the region, and the economic and social development of the peoples of the region.

The two Presidents are in accord with regard to the urgency of the resolution of the humanitarian issues, first and foremost the immediate and unconditional release by all parties of all hostages and prisoners of war.

Presidents Ter-Petrossian and Aliyev agreed to continue their contacts.

Luxembourg,

April 21, 1996