NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT’S SETTLEMENT STILL ONE OF TOP PRIORITIES FOR EU’S FOREIGN POLICY
Trend, Azerbaijan
May 15 2014
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 15
By Sabina Ahmadova – Trend:
Stefan Fule, the European Commissioner for Enlargement and European
Neighbourhood Policy, spoke to the ‘The Business Year – Azerbaijan
2014’ magazine.
In his interview with the magazine, Fule touched upon such
issues as resolving regional conflicts and the settlement of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Speaking to the magazine, Fule said the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict’s
settlement remains one of the top priorities for the foreign policy
of the European Union.
“The EU is fully committed to supporting the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement process,” Fule said. “Only a peaceful, negotiated settlement
can allow the entire region to move toward a secure and prosperous
future and can help unleash the full potential of the South Caucasus
region as a gateway between Europe and Asia.”
He also said the EU is concerned about the lack of tangible progress
on the settlement of the conflict.
“In this context, we welcomed the meeting of the President of
Azerbaijan and President of Armenia in Vienna on November 19, 2013,
and commended the OSCE Minsk Group Co Chairs for their efforts in
facilitating the resumption of top level meetings,” Fule underscored.
He stressed that the EU called upon Azerbaijan and Armenia to step up
their efforts toward agreement on the Madrid Principles as a basis for
peace, in accordance with the commitments undertaken by the presidents
within the OSCE Minsk Group.
“Concerned about the escalation of tension due to confrontational
rhetoric and serious incidents along the line of contact and along the
international border between the two countries, the EU has urged both
sides to respect the ceasefire agreement, fulfil their commitments
made in the framework of the Minsk Group, and refrain from actions
and statements that could heighten tension and undermine the peace
process,” Fule added.
He also said the engagement of Azerbaijan with the EU is based on
the European Neighborhood Policy and on the Eastern Partnership,
adding that the current legal framework for bilateral relations is
the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, signed in 1999.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan.
As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied
20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and
seven surrounding districts.
The two countries 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.
From: A. Papazian