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THERE IS A REAL DANGER OF SHARP ESCALATION OF THE NK CONFLICT, PETER SEMNEBY THINKS
Mediamax
Oct 25 2011
Armenia
Yerevan/Mediamax/. Former Special Representative of the European
Union for the South Caucasus, Peter Semneby, thinks that there exists
a real danger of sharp escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Peter Semneby writes this in an article published in "Russia in Global
Affairs" journal, Mediamax reports.
"The inner logic and the dynamics of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
are fraught with serious risks. There exists a real danger of sharp
escalation. The parties to the conflict are embroiled in an ongoing and
destabilizing arms race. There is only a self-regulated and unreliable
ceasefire agreement without the disengagement of belligerents,
and only several observers from the OSCE monitor the ceasefire,"
the former EU Special Representative said.
"Brussels has made it clear that it is ready to contribute to the
strengthening of confidence and support the negotiations within the
OSCE Minsk Group. EU's policy on Abkhazia and South Ossetia could
be partially used to resolve the situation in Nagorno Karabakh,
but the complete absence of trust between the sides has hampered the
cooperation so far. Besides soft confidence building measures, the
European Union could also contribute to the practical and political
work of the OSCE Minsk Group. In particular, it's necessary to
reinforce the ceasefire agreements," Peter Semneby noted.
"The barrier on the path of military confrontation over Nagorno
Karabakh gradually vanishes, as the sides continue armament. The
fragile balance which has kept the conflict under relevant control and
hampered the escalation over last 15 years can be frustrated soon,"
warned Peter Semneby.
Speaking about the settlement of conflicts in the South Caucasus on
the whole, Peter Semneby expressed the opinion that the "people of
the region need a common identity to better get along with each other."
"Today they have too little in common. The European Union can add a
new dimension to their belonging to a big European family to help the
South Caucasus countries go beyond the borders of a narrow-national
self-determination, which has become a priority after the gaining of
political independence and was then bolstered by wars in 1990s. The
common identity would help the peoples of the South Caucasus have
common aspirations instead of wasting their energy for endless
conflicts, from which no one wins. But Brussels needs to demonstrate
continuous commitment to interests, needs and expectations of the
people of the region," he noted.
From: A. Papazian
Mediamax
Oct 25 2011
Armenia
Yerevan/Mediamax/. Former Special Representative of the European
Union for the South Caucasus, Peter Semneby, thinks that there exists
a real danger of sharp escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Peter Semneby writes this in an article published in "Russia in Global
Affairs" journal, Mediamax reports.
"The inner logic and the dynamics of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
are fraught with serious risks. There exists a real danger of sharp
escalation. The parties to the conflict are embroiled in an ongoing and
destabilizing arms race. There is only a self-regulated and unreliable
ceasefire agreement without the disengagement of belligerents,
and only several observers from the OSCE monitor the ceasefire,"
the former EU Special Representative said.
"Brussels has made it clear that it is ready to contribute to the
strengthening of confidence and support the negotiations within the
OSCE Minsk Group. EU's policy on Abkhazia and South Ossetia could
be partially used to resolve the situation in Nagorno Karabakh,
but the complete absence of trust between the sides has hampered the
cooperation so far. Besides soft confidence building measures, the
European Union could also contribute to the practical and political
work of the OSCE Minsk Group. In particular, it's necessary to
reinforce the ceasefire agreements," Peter Semneby noted.
"The barrier on the path of military confrontation over Nagorno
Karabakh gradually vanishes, as the sides continue armament. The
fragile balance which has kept the conflict under relevant control and
hampered the escalation over last 15 years can be frustrated soon,"
warned Peter Semneby.
Speaking about the settlement of conflicts in the South Caucasus on
the whole, Peter Semneby expressed the opinion that the "people of
the region need a common identity to better get along with each other."
"Today they have too little in common. The European Union can add a
new dimension to their belonging to a big European family to help the
South Caucasus countries go beyond the borders of a narrow-national
self-determination, which has become a priority after the gaining of
political independence and was then bolstered by wars in 1990s. The
common identity would help the peoples of the South Caucasus have
common aspirations instead of wasting their energy for endless
conflicts, from which no one wins. But Brussels needs to demonstrate
continuous commitment to interests, needs and expectations of the
people of the region," he noted.
From: A. Papazian