PACE subcommittee on Nagorno-Karabakh to start working in April

The new head of the PACE subcommittee on Nagorno-Karabakh Jordi Xucla i Costa intends to thoroughly study the theme of the conflict and to establish contact with both parties before the activity of the subcommittee is officially launched in April.

"I intend to work hard, to devote most time to studying the subject. We have just started. It is time to work with both parties to better understand their positions for the further objective activity of the subcommittee with the use of best practice," Costa told Trend.

Spanish MP from the Liberal party Costa was appointed chairman of the subcommittee of the CE Parliamentary Assembly at a meeting of the PACE Bureau on Friday. A decision was made to resume the activity of the subcommittee.

The subcommittee was established in 2005, but after the death of its chairman Lord Russell-Johnston, its activity was suspended. Costa, having experience in settlement of conflicts and mediation, called his recent appointment as very important.

"Earlier, I worked in Georgia and Ukraine. I dealt with the issues of national minorities, as well as I have experience in settlement of conflicts and mediation. I am going to work in other part of the Caucasus now, which is very important for the stability in the European area.

Speaking about the activity plans, Costa said that he plans to thoroughly study the situation in the conflict region, to establish contact with representatives of academic circles, with some politicians and ambassadors in February and March. The subcommittee will officially begin to work in April. The first official contacts are planned to be held with the leadership of Azerbaijan and Armenia that period.

However, Spanish MP said that he did not witness the reluctance of the Armenian delegation to resume the activity of the subcommittee. He said that the delegation of Armenia was suspicious to this idea, but it did not stand against.

"My responsibility is to work constructively with both sides to create the atmosphere of trust and the possibility of further work", Costa said.

The delegates of the subcommittee have not planned to make trips to the South Caucasus region yet. Costa said that before visiting the region, he must have a clear vision of the situation. It is necessary to work with the representatives of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"It is important for my first visit to the region to be successful. I will do everything possible for this," Costa said.


/Trend/