AZERBAIJANI MPS HAVE SOME MEETINGS DURING OSCE PA WINTER SESSION
Vienna, February 19 (AZERTAC). The Azerbaijan delegation has held a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of a winter session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Vienna.
At a meeting with Vice-Speaker of the National Council of Austria Fritz Neugebauer, Deputy Chairman of the Milli Majlis Bahar Muradova touched on the history of Austria-Azerbaijan relations, saying they are steadily developing. She briefed Neugebauer on the peace talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Muradova also highlighted the role of Azerbaijan in ensuring Europe`s energy security.
Muradova noted opening of Austrian embassy in Baku would mark a new era in development of bilateral relations and contribute to deepening cooperation in a variety of fields.
Discussions also revolved around interparliamentary ties and opportunities for cooperation between the Austrian People`s Party and New Azerbaijan Party.
Neugebauer was invited to visit Azerbaijan.
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Bahar Muradova also met with member of the Austrian Parliament, chairman of the Austria-South Caucasus parliamentary group Karl Ollinger. The sides stressed the role of the Austrian parliament and friendship group in making a decision on opening of the Austrian embassy in Baku. Azerbaijani Vice-Speaker invited Ollinger and the friendship group to visit Azerbaijan
She answered Austrian MPs` questions concerning peace talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
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The successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and France was stressed at a meeting with member of the French Parliament, Chairman of the OSCE PA Committee for Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment Roland Blum.
Bahar Muradova stressed the need for France as OSCE Minsk Group co-chair to pay more attention to the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute. According to her, the conflict is a real threat to stability and security in the South Caucasus and impedes regional economic development. The soonest resolution of the conflict will allow Azerbaijan to be more free in meeting Europe`s energy needs, she added.
Blum said he is a coordinator for the South Caucasus in the French Parliament`s Foreign Affairs Committee. French MP highlighted the consequences of regional conflicts for the development in the region. Blum noted he had already visited Yerevan and Moscow and is going to travel to Baku and Ankara in April.
Muradova said Azerbaijan is ready to grant the highest autonomy to Nagorno-Karabakh in line with international legal norms. To this end, Armenia must withdraw its troops from occupied lands of Azerbaijan so that displaced persons could return to their homes. Muradova pointed out the international community must urge Armenia to agree with this fair approach. If the talks fail, Azerbaijan will have to restore its territorial integrity by other means. However, Azerbaijan, according to Bahar Muradova, favors peaceful ways of solving the problem.
Azerbaijani Vice-Speaker deemed it unacceptable when Roland Blum presented speaker of Nagorno-Karabakh parliament Ashot Gulyan with order of honor on behalf of mayor of Marseilles. Such cases, according to Muradova, cast shadow on France`s role as OSCE Minsk Group co-chair.
Blum admitted the 50-thousand Armenian community in Marseilles plays important role in electing MPs.
Bahar Muradova stressed the need for Blum`s meeting Azerbaijani IDPs and refugees as well as Azerbaijan Milli Majlis`s delegation to the OSCE PA.
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