UNPO, Netherlands
March 23 2006
Abkhazia: EU Can Play Mediator Role in Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
Yesterday International Crisis Group’s (ICG) report on `The EU’s role
in conflict resolution in the South Caucasus’ prepared on account of
the EU grant was represented in Brussels. Crisis Group’s Caucasus
Project Director, Sabine Freizer, the EU special representative on
South Caucasus, Peter Semneby and International Alert Organization
representative addressed the meeting.
ISG representative in Baku, Vugar Gojayev told APA that about 35-page
report investigated participation of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan
in the European Neighbourhood Policy and EU’s activity in these
states and included about 30 proposals. Recommendations are targeted
to both EU and South Caucasus countries. The EU’s efforts to address
tensions over Nagorno-Garabagh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia and points
out how the EU can do more for Nagorno-Garabagh, Abkhazia and South
Ossetia conflicts.
The report reads that delay is observed in Azerbaijan in connection
with working out of the action plan.
`NGOs have actively taken part in development of the action plan,
even the NGOs have worked out an alternative plan, 9 NGOs have been
involved in this process in Armenia. NGOs’ not joining this process
in Azerbaijan causes concern’. Touching on Garabagh conflict, the ICG
thinks that firstly, Armenian Armed Forces should be withdrawn from
the occupied lands, IDPs should return to their home. The final
status of Nagorno-Garabagh should be determined through a referendum.
The report reads that the EU did little for settlement of the Nagorno
Garabagh conflict and its activity was weak in this process, only
ambassador Heiki Talvitie paid some visits to the region. ICG thinks
that the OSCE have not produced comprehensive peace agreements and
the EU may eliminate this gap. ICG thinks that Peter Semneby can
closely take part in talk process within the OSCE MG and the EU can
play an honest mediator role in the negotiations. One of the
recommendations is that the EU should send fact finding mission to
the occupied territories. ICG thinks that the EU should carry out the
initial assessment, work out strategy of rehabilitation works and
determine the contingency on deployment of the peacekeepers in the
region. The ICG analysed the EU assistance to the South Caucasus and
concluded that Azerbaijan is the greatest trade partner of the EU in
South Caucasus.