EU ENVOY CITES HIGH CHANCES FOR AZERI-ARMENIAN ACCORD IN 2006

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 17 2006

Baku, March 16, AssA-Irada
The newly-appointed European Union envoy on the South Caucasus has
cited high chances for an Armenia-Azerbaijan accord on Upper (Nagorno)
Garabagh, despite the latest unsuccessful round of presidential talks.

“If I did not believe in the conflict resolution, I would not have
taken up my new appointment,” Peter Semneby said during his visit
to the Armenian capital Yerevan. Semneby said he would be regularly
in touch with the mediating OSCE Minsk Group to make sure all the
initiatives aiming to the settle the long-standing dispute are
properly coordinated.

“Considering that the last meeting of the two presidents did not
justify expectations, it is difficult to say how real these hopes
are. To become closely familiar with the situation, I have to visit
Azerbaijan and Armenia and exchange views with the co-chairs.”

The discussions held by the two leaders in the French town of
Rambouillet in February turned out fruitless, as the parties failed
to iron out issues of principle, which was followed by mutual threats.

The Swedish diplomat noted that one of the priorities in his activity
would be to facilitate settlement of “frozen conflicts” persisting in
the region. Semneby added that the European Union will face daunting
tasks after these disputes are resolved.