ArmInfo.The autumn session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) will be held in November in Yerevan. Sargis Khandanyan, chairman of the RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, head of the Armenian delegation to the OSCE PA, MP from the ruling Civil Contract party, said at a briefing in the parliament that the corresponding decision was made in Vancouver at the annual session of the OSCE PA.
According to him, for the first time Armenia will host one of the main sessions of the OSCE PA, one of the largest regional parliamentary platforms, which includes 57 member states. "This is also the first time in the history of Armenia when a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia holds a position in one of the elected bodies. It is important that these officials simultaneously become members of the bureau, which is the main decision-making body," said Khandanyan, who was elected Deputy Chair of the General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions of the Parliamentary Assembly on July 3 during the OSCE PA Annual Summer Session going on in Vancouver.
At the same time, in response to a request to evaluate the movement that is taking place today in Artsakh and the humanitarian crisis unfolding there, the MP from the ruling "Civil Contract" force assured that in order to protect the rights and ensure the security of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh, Stepanakert should start negotiations with Baku.
He assured that the Armenian side raises the issue at meetings with international partners and they "have an understanding that the time has come for targeted actions."
"Nevertheless, our position is unchanged. In particular, in regards to protecting the rights of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh and ensuring their security. However, a dialogue between Stepanakert and Baku is necessary. The issue should be discussed from this angle in order for it to receive international resonance," he considers.
Khandanyan added that Yerevan and Stepanakert should look for solutions that will be followed by concrete steps and actions. Such may be, for example, a broad international presence in Nagorno-Karabakh. This, according to the head of the Committee, may well guarantee the protection of the rights and security of the population of Artsakh.