ST. PETERSBURG (Armenpress)–The first meeting of the parliament speakers from Azerbaijan–Armenia–Russia and Georgia took place in St. Petersburg–Russia–on Saturday–November–24–reported Itar-Tass.
State Duma speaker Gennadiy Seleznev told journalists that the meeting was devoted to the situation in the Caucasus and the fight against international terrorism.
The parliament speakers of Azerbaijan–Armenia–Russia–and Georgia noted the need to step up legislation at the national and international levels in order to create a strong and clear legal basis to fight international terrorism and to enhance interaction in finding–extraditing and trying people involved in terrorist acts.
They called for an immediate–peaceful–fair and lasting settlement of the conflicts in the Caucasus and they stated that the settlement should be based on generally recognized principles and norms of international law.
However–on his return from St. Petersburg–the Speaker of Azeri Milli Mejlis (Parliament) Murtuz Aleskerov (the Azeri representative at the meeting) said–"During the meeting which lasted for three hours we discussed issues which create obstacles in the process of Karabakh conflict’s peaceful settlement." According to Aleskerov–Russia’should play a more significant role in the settlement process and that it is Russia’s fault that the conflict is not settled yet. "The role of this country in the process of settlement could be more effective," said Aleskerov.
Seleznev said that the sides agreed to meet twice a year in St. Petersburg during CIS Interparliamentary Assembly sessions. The next meeting of the Caucasus Four will be held in March 2002 at the 19th CIS Interparliamentary Assembly session. Seleznev said that each national parliament will appoint officials to prepare the meetings.