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Exclusive Interview Of Peter Semneby, EU Special Representative

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  • Exclusive Interview Of Peter Semneby, EU Special Representative

    "CONTRIBUTION TO THE CONFLICTS RESOLUTION WILL BE MY TOP PRIORITY"

    (The exclusive interview of Peter Semneby, EU Special Representative
    for the South Caucasus, to Mediamax news agency, March 2006)

    On March 1, Peter Semneby assumed his responsibilities as the new
    European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the South
    Caucasus. His first interview on this post Peter Semneby gave to
    Armenian Mediamax news agency.

    - Your mandate includes a number of objectives. Which one do you
    consider to be the most important one?

    - My top priority will be to contribute to the resolution of frozen
    conflicts in the region. I am aware of the existing expectations that
    the European Union will play a big role after the settlement is
    achieved, and this is also something that needs to be prepared. The
    conflicts are taking so much political attention, they are consuming
    financial resources and they hamper normal development of the
    countries in the region.

    There are a number of other important issues as well. In particular,
    we should continue the assistance to state building in the three
    countries of the South Caucasus, to ensure normal relationships
    between the countries of the region, to foster the regional
    cooperation at a larger framework than the narrow framework between
    three countries.

    - According to your mandate, you have to support the activities of the
    OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen. How do you see your role in this
    process?

    - I am only 10 days in the office and hadn't enough time to have a
    formal meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen. I will, of
    course, have very close contacts with them to make sure that whatever
    initiatives are taken, whatever messages are given, they are clearly
    coordinated.

    Perhaps, more important is to prepare the ground for what will happen
    after the settlement is reached and this can also be used as an
    incentive for the parties to come to a settlement.

    - There were a lot of expectations ahead of the meeting of Armenian
    and Azerbaijani presidents in France last month, and a lot of
    disappointment after the talks. Do you still believe it is possible to
    resolve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in 2006?

    - For sure, I have hopes. I can't say now whether they are realistic
    or not taking into account the fact that the expectations were dashed
    at the most recent meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani
    presidents. For having a better understanding I need to make my first
    visit to Armenia and Azerbaijan and to talk to the Minsk Group
    co-chairmen. But I definitely maintain a high degree of hope,
    otherwise I should not have accepted this job.

    - Heikki Talvitie, your predecessor on this post, paid a lot of
    attention to the improvement of Turkish-Armenian relations. Are you
    going to continue these efforts?

    - Essentially, they are two difficult relationships with neighbors in
    the region: it's Armenia-Turkey and Georgia-Russia. Both of them will
    be among my priorities.

    - Energy security is becoming an important issue on the agenda of
    Armenia-EU relations . Will you deal with this issue?

    - My mandate is broad enough to include the issue of energy
    security. Given the developments that have taken place both in the
    region and beyond it in last several months, I think there is a reason
    to take a more active interest in this issue. Energy security is
    definitely much more on the agenda that it used to be.

    - Despite numerous efforts and funding provided by the EU for the
    development of the regional cooperation in the South Caucasus, little
    has been achieved. Do you think such cooperation is possible before
    the resolution of existing conflicts?

    - Efforts to establish the regional cooperation should be developed in
    parallel with the efforts to resolve the conflicts. Probably, it
    should involve a broader context than just the countries of the South
    Caucasus.

    - What is your opinion about the prospects of further democratic
    transformation in Armenia?

    - Democratic standards are always at the forefront of the interest of
    the EU. I have experience from my previous jobs as the head of the
    OSCE Mission in Latvia and then in Croatia, where I was monitoring
    similar issues and giving support in overcoming obstacles related to
    democratic institutions, electoral systems, etc. Of course, these
    issues are not easy, they are also problems in many mature
    democracies. But as long as there is a mutual commitment and
    willingness to resolve the existing difficulties, I am confident that
    the issues related to the development of democratic institutions will
    not be a major obstacle.

    - We know that you have visited Armenia after the 1988
    earthquake. Could you tell us more about this experience?

    - That was really one of the most defining moments in my life. I spent
    a week in Leninakan immediately after the earthquake. I was working in
    the Embassy of Sweden in the USSR and came to Leninakan two days after
    the earthquake together with the Swedish rescue team. We were
    searching through the ruins after the survivors.

    It was a heartbreaking experience, but at the same time I felt huge
    respect for the dignity and the resilience of the people who were so
    severely affected by the earthquake. I am very much looking forward to
    go back to this area and see what the situation there is now.
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