Refugees
and displaced persons in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia
Doc nr 10835
Leo
Platvoet (UEL – Netherlands)
Plenary session,
13-4-2006
The rapporteur did a tremendous job with this
report.
A bit away from the difficult political
situation, forwards to the humanitarian aspects of the tradegy in which so many
people in the the Southern Caucasus are living as refugees or displaced persons.
You can discuss about the figures, which the
rapporteur wants to avoid.
And he is enterily right.
Behind these figures are people, who are in
dispair, who want back to their homeland, who want a normal life for themselves
and their children.
The report contains many proposals for improving their situation from now on.
Although the rapporteur emphasizes on the
humanitarian aspects he also underlines that it is necesssary to improve the
conditions under which political agreement can be reached. This
report is also a strong appeal to the countries involved, Azerbaijan, Georgia
and Armenia, to make further and new steps.
To continue their efforts to achieve a peaceful
and permenent settlement of their disputes.
And if you are looking at what is happpening the last months, specially in the
case of the Nagorno Karabach-conflict, it’s clear that there is at least some
willingness by both countries involved to talk with each other.
Also the delegations of Azerbaijan and Armenia
in this Assembly can contribute to a peaceful and sustainable solution by taking
the position that improving the relations between their countries on all levels
is the first condition to solve the immens problems of the hundred of thousands
of refugees and displaced persones
who are now in great despair.
But there lies also a duty for the international
community.
Although they are situated in a south-east
corner of our continent Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are European countries.
There’s no doubt about it that when these huge problems would exist in
Western Europe –let’s say Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemburg – all the
international efforts should be directed to solve them.
Now they exist in a corner of Europe, where of
course geopolitical players on the global field watch the situation from their
own interests, the international approach is too lazy if you look at the
humanitarian impact.
I think the Council of Europe, in cooperation
with other European institutions, should play a more active role to contribute
to the solution of the conflicts in and between their own memberstates.
I hope that this report will also contribute to
that aim.