Tweet
HEAD OF EU COUNCIL: NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SHOULD BE RESOLVED WITHIN INTERNATIONAL LAW
Trend, Azerbaijan
Jan 21 2014
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.21
By Sabina Ahmedova - Trend:
As an OSCE participating state and as the country currently holding
the EU Presidency, Greece fully supports the Minsk Group's efforts
to mediate the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute
through a solution that is acceptable to both of the parties concerned
in the dispute, Evangelos Venizelos, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister of Greece, which presides over the EU Council in the first
half of this year, said in an interview with Trend on Jan.21.
The peaceful resolution of disputes is a fundamental principle of
Greek foreign policy, and it is also a European principle, Evangelos
Venizelos said, adding that this means resolutions that respect
international law and national sovereignty.
The European Union has a special interest in the resolution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, and this interest was reflected in the
appointment of a European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for
the Southern Caucasus, the minister said.
"In this context, the EUSR can act in a supporting and complementary
role to the OSCE Minsk Group to defuse tension and create an
environment conducive to progress towards resolution of the dispute,"
Venizelos said.
The minister went on to say that within both the OSCE and the EU,
Greece pursues its role as an honest and impartial facilitator backing
all initiatives aimed at resolution of the dispute.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan.
Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since
1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding
districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the THE OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are
currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.
Trend, Azerbaijan
Jan 21 2014
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.21
By Sabina Ahmedova - Trend:
As an OSCE participating state and as the country currently holding
the EU Presidency, Greece fully supports the Minsk Group's efforts
to mediate the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute
through a solution that is acceptable to both of the parties concerned
in the dispute, Evangelos Venizelos, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister of Greece, which presides over the EU Council in the first
half of this year, said in an interview with Trend on Jan.21.
The peaceful resolution of disputes is a fundamental principle of
Greek foreign policy, and it is also a European principle, Evangelos
Venizelos said, adding that this means resolutions that respect
international law and national sovereignty.
The European Union has a special interest in the resolution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, and this interest was reflected in the
appointment of a European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for
the Southern Caucasus, the minister said.
"In this context, the EUSR can act in a supporting and complementary
role to the OSCE Minsk Group to defuse tension and create an
environment conducive to progress towards resolution of the dispute,"
Venizelos said.
The minister went on to say that within both the OSCE and the EU,
Greece pursues its role as an honest and impartial facilitator backing
all initiatives aimed at resolution of the dispute.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan.
Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since
1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding
districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the THE OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are
currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.