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Interview of Heikki Talvitie and Terry Davis: “Europe cannot afford competition or duplication”

Interview with the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus
and the Rapporteur on the conflict dealt with by the OSCE Minsk Conference (Nagorno-Karabakh)

The EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Heikki Talvitie met with the Assembly’s Rapporteur on the conflict dealt with by the OSCE Minsk Conference Terry Davis, in Strasbourg on 25 September 2003. In an interview following the meeting, both present their views on cooperation in this matter.

Interview (08.10.2003)

Question: Mr Talvitie, you were nominated on 7 July 2003 the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus, a region which is not bordering the EU. Where do you see the need for the EU to act with a common voice?

Heikki Talvitie: The European Union is a big donor in the region. In order to enhance its visibility, more cooperation and coordination is needed between the different EU actors in the region.

Question.: Mr Davis, you have visited the countries of the South Caucasus several times as the Rapporteur on Georgia and the Rapporteur on the conflict dealt with by the OSCE Minsk Conference. Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia joined the Council of Europe only a few years ago. Which issues should the Council of Europe focus on as a priority?

Terry Davis: The Council of Europe Assembly has taken an interest in the so-called “frozen” conflicts in the South Caucasus and elsewhere for several years. As the rapporteur for the conflict being dealt with by the OSCE Minsk Conference (Nagorno-Karabakh), I am currently preparing a report on this issue so that it is obviously foremost in my mind. Other members of our Assembly are preparing reports on other issues in the South Caucasus so that it would be a mistake for anyone to think that these other problems are being ignored.

Question : Mr Talvitie, you were a Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group dealing with the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. If you look at the current state of negotiations facilitated by the Minsk Group, where do you think the EU could assist both countries?

Heikki Talvitie: The European Union is assisting the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group and supporting their efforts, both on bilateral and multilateral level. After the presidential elections in Azerbaijan, there could be a possibility to create bilateral contacts at multilateral level.

Question: Mr Davis, inter-parliamentary co-operation has been used in a few instances only in order to offer good services to conflicting parties. Do you believe that this platform should be strengthened?

Terry Davis: Inter-parliamentary co-operation can be very helpful in dealing with international conflicts because it brings together politicians representing both government parties and opposition parties in both countries. As an example, I refer you to the joint Georgian-Russian parliamentary visit to the Pankisi Gorge a year ago. I am sure that this visit helped to reduce the tension which had previously arisen.

Question: Mr Talvitie, the European Union and the Council of Europe are co-operating in many fields. Is the South Caucasus a region where such co-operation should be reinforced?

Heikki Talvitie: Concerning questions of the rule of law and democracy in the region, the Council of Europe has been a very active partner to the OSCE and the European Union. Our co-operation is needed, also in the future.

Question : Mr Davis, you are also the Head of the UK delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. The Council of Europe, the OSCE and the EU are quite distinct organisations with a different membership and a different set of standards or “acquis”. How could action by these organisations be co-ordinated?

Terry Davis: I do not accept that there is a great difference between the values of these organisations, and I would add that a great deal has been done to improve co-operation between us. The Presidents of the Council of Europe Assembly, the OSCE Assembly and the European Parliament meet regularly, and I know that the secretariats of the three organisations also meet. However, there is a need to ensure that these discussions result in either joint action or agreed “job-sharing”. Europe cannot afford competition or duplication.