Karabakh problem one of priorities of reelected PACE President`s work
ArmInfo. Reelected President of PACE Pedro Agramunt stated in his speech on the first plenary winter session of the Organization that PACE currently faces four
existential challenges, which create a state of constant upheaval.
According to him firstly, transnational terrorism poses a fundamental
and multi- faceted danger. Secondly, the refugee crisis, which has
triggered much debate about European identity and values. Millions of
people are heading towards Europe, on the road to salvation. That is
why the refugee crisis is a test of Europe's ability to reach
consensus.
"The situation in Ukraine remains very delicate. The conflict has
already taken over 9 000 lives, Russian-backed separatists still
control part of the country and peace remains elusive. Threats to
security and frozen conflicts still exist in the region of
Transnistria in the Republic of Moldova, in Abkhazia and South
Ossetia in Georgia, and in Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan. All of
them present a challenge to Europe's security and complicate efforts
to achieve a peaceful settlement. Do not take peace for granted. We
have to work on peace again and again in each generation", Agramunt
stated in his speech published on PACE official website.
"Lastly, I would like to mention the wave of left and right-wing
populism, rising nationalism and the erosion of democratic principles
and human rights in some places, which affect our cohesion and our
capacity for joint action. These are issues that dominate our agenda
and which have grown more urgent and which threaten to undo decades
of progress towards greater union, more open borders and closer
integration", he noted.
To note, the Armenian delegation to PACE has constantly accused
Agramunt of his pro-Azerbaijani stand. It also spoke against his
attempts to include Karabakh settlement in the agenda of PACE
sessions.