EU CALLS FOR FAIR RESOLUTION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT IN ACCORDANCE WITH AGREED PRINCIPLES
Trend, Azerbaijan
June 21 2013
The European Commission calls for a fair resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in accordance with the agreed principles,
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said at a
press-conference in Brussels on Friday on the results of the meeting
with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
Barroso’s statement is posted on the European Union’s official website.
“We know well that for countries in the region to realize their full
potential they need to be secure and at peace with their neighbors,”
he said.
According to Barroso, the EU supports the international mediation
efforts through the OSCE Minsk Group and stands ready to play its
part for a lasting and peaceful settlement.
Barroso said that broader issues were discussed during the meeting
with the Azerbaijani President.
“Azerbaijan is an important partner with whom we cooperate closely
on a number of regional and global issues. We also looked ahead to
Azerbaijan’s chairmanship of the Council of Europe next year,” he said.
“We also shared our views on key domestic issues for Azerbaijan. The
Presidential elections are high on the list. We expressed our hope
that these can take place according to the highest standards, with
the support of international observers including from OSCE-ODIHR,”
Barroso said.
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 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.