Peter Semneby: Isolation of the outh Caucasus is extremely dangerous

Peter Semneby: Isolation of the outh Caucasus is extremely dangerous

Armradio.am
03.03.2007 13:20

`The isolation of the disputed region of the South Caucasus is
extremely dangerous for the growing generations that have no contacts
with neighbor states with which their predecessors have been living
for centuries,’ EU Special Envoy for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby
told ArmInfo correspondent.

`This situation is not a normal one, since no matter whether people
want or not, they are geopolitically close and that is why the contact
is simply necessary,’ the diplomat noted. In his words, the most
important is the reestablishment of contacts between peoples. If
another generation grows without relations, resolution of this or that
conflict will be extremely difficult,’ Peter Semneby underlined. `I
think the European Union can assist both Karabakhi Armenians and
Azerbaijanis, since the EU is an important political player in the
South Caucasian region today. Besides, close relations with the South
Caucasus, and the cooperation under the Action Pan in the framework of
the European Neighborhood Policy provide certain levers, which the EU
can use to establish an atmosphere of trust and normal relations for
the purpose of final resolution of the Karabakh conflict,’ the EU
Special Envoy mentioned. He underlined that first of all these levers
will be directed at the creation of trust between the communities of
Nagorno Karabakh. Peter Semneby reminded that the European Union is
not engaged in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. `The
resolution of the Karabakh conflict is the task of the OSCE Minsk
Group, but the EU can have its contribution to the development of
dialogue between the sides and can assist the activities of the OSCE
Minsk Group,’ the diplomat noted.