EU RECOMMENDS ENSURING UNIMPEDED ACCESS FOR REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EU TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH AND SURROUNDING REGIONS

ARMINFO
Friday, March 28, 14:06

The stalemate in the Minsk Process aiming at settling the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict continued for most of 2013, says ENP Country
Progress Report 2013 on Azerbaijan.

However, the Presidents of the two countries reconvened in November
2013 for the first time since January 2012 in a summit in Vienna,
mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, at which they agreed
to advance negotiations towards a peaceful settlement and to meet
again in the months ahead. An upsurge of violence along the line of
contact was nevertheless witnessed early 2014. The EU continued to
give its full support to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs in their work
to facilitate a lasting settlement.

The EU recommends the following steps for promoting the peace process:
stepping up efforts towards agreement on the Madrid Principles, as
a basis for peace, in accordance with the commitments undertaken by
the Presidents of

Azerbaijan and Armenia within the Minsk Group; refrain from actions and
statements that could heighten tension and undermine the peace process;

promoting an environment conducive to progress in the conflict
settlement, encourage and support related peace-building activities;

ensuring unimpeded access for representatives of the EU to Nagorno-
Karabakh and surrounding regions in support of conflict transformation
activities in full complementarity with the efforts of the Minsk Group.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress