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EU URGES TO ADVANCE PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
April 3 2013
By Sara Rajabova
The European Union urges both parties to the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh to promote and encourage a peaceful
solution.
Head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan Roland Kobia made the
statement at a press conference on Wednesday. Kobia added that the
sides also need to strengthen confidence-building measures.
"We saw a low path of negotiations on the conflict between Azerbaijan
and Armenia on Nagorno-Karabakh in 2012," Kobia said. "The European
Neighborhood Policy (ENP) progress report 2012 includes
recommendations for Azerbaijan and Armenia to step up the efforts to
reach peaceful resolution of the conflict."
Kobia went on to say that the EU has a special representative on this
conflict and it would be very useful if he had access to the occupied
territories.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war in the early 1990s.
Armenian armed forces have since occupied over 20 percent of
Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including
Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. The UN Security Council
has adopted four resolutions on Armenia's withdrawal from the
Azerbaijani territory, but they have not been enforced to this day.
A precarious cease-fire was signed in 1994. However, units of the
Armenian armed forces commit armistice breaches on the frontline
almost every day.
Russia, France and the U.S. -- co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group --
are mediating peace negotiations. Peace talks
have been mostly fruitless so far.
Kobia also noted the importance of confidence-building measures,
saying that the EU calls on both parties to promote an overall
environment which would encourage and support peace activities.
Last year it was reported that EU Special Representative for the South
Caucasus Philippe Lefort plans to visit the Armenia-occupied
Azerbaijani territories.
However, the Azerbaijani government urged Lefort to explain the
purpose of his planned visit to Nagorno-Karabakh.
"Nagorno-Karabakh is under occupation and one can visit these areas
only after obtaining Azerbaijan's permission," Deputy Foreign Minister
Araz Azimov stated then.
Azimov noted that for now the EU is not involved in the conflict
settlement, but only supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group. In
the future, however, the EU may be involved in resolving any issues
related to the conflict, the deputy minister said.
http://www.azernews.az/azerbaijan/51652.html
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
April 3 2013
By Sara Rajabova
The European Union urges both parties to the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh to promote and encourage a peaceful
solution.
Head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan Roland Kobia made the
statement at a press conference on Wednesday. Kobia added that the
sides also need to strengthen confidence-building measures.
"We saw a low path of negotiations on the conflict between Azerbaijan
and Armenia on Nagorno-Karabakh in 2012," Kobia said. "The European
Neighborhood Policy (ENP) progress report 2012 includes
recommendations for Azerbaijan and Armenia to step up the efforts to
reach peaceful resolution of the conflict."
Kobia went on to say that the EU has a special representative on this
conflict and it would be very useful if he had access to the occupied
territories.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war in the early 1990s.
Armenian armed forces have since occupied over 20 percent of
Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including
Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. The UN Security Council
has adopted four resolutions on Armenia's withdrawal from the
Azerbaijani territory, but they have not been enforced to this day.
A precarious cease-fire was signed in 1994. However, units of the
Armenian armed forces commit armistice breaches on the frontline
almost every day.
Russia, France and the U.S. -- co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group --
are mediating peace negotiations. Peace talks
have been mostly fruitless so far.
Kobia also noted the importance of confidence-building measures,
saying that the EU calls on both parties to promote an overall
environment which would encourage and support peace activities.
Last year it was reported that EU Special Representative for the South
Caucasus Philippe Lefort plans to visit the Armenia-occupied
Azerbaijani territories.
However, the Azerbaijani government urged Lefort to explain the
purpose of his planned visit to Nagorno-Karabakh.
"Nagorno-Karabakh is under occupation and one can visit these areas
only after obtaining Azerbaijan's permission," Deputy Foreign Minister
Araz Azimov stated then.
Azimov noted that for now the EU is not involved in the conflict
settlement, but only supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group. In
the future, however, the EU may be involved in resolving any issues
related to the conflict, the deputy minister said.
http://www.azernews.az/azerbaijan/51652.html