Armenpress

KARABAKH WELCOMES ICG REPORT, BUT SAYS ITS
RECOMMENDATIONS NOT FEASIBLE

STEPANAKERT, MARCH 24, ARMENPRESS: The foreign
ministry of Nagorno-Karabakh praised a report by the
Brussels- based International Crisis Group (ICG) on
EU’s role in resolution of conflicts in the South
Caucasus, issued on March 20, describing it as
‘serious and analytical work.”
The report in question said instability in the
South Caucasus is a threat to European Union (EU)
security. “Geographic proximity, energy resources,
pipelines and the challenges of international crime
and trafficking make stability in the region a clear
EU interest. Yet, the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh,
Abkhazian and South Ossetian conflicts have the
potential to ignite into full-fledged wars in Europe’s
neighborhood. To guarantee its own security, the EU
should become more engaged in efforts to resolve the
three disputes. It can do so by strengthening the
conflict resolution dimension of the instruments it
applies. As the EU is unlikely to offer membership to
Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan even in the medium
term, it must identify innovative means to impose
conditionality on its aid and demonstrate influence.
This is a challenge that Brussels has only begun to
address.”
Irina Beglarian, head of a department at
Nagorno-Karabakh foreign ministry, said
Nagorno-Karabakh shared these concerns and welcomed
every effort aimed at preventing resumption of
hostilities in the region and establishment of
stability and peace. She said Karabakh authorities
comprehend the desire of the EU to get involved in
peace efforts, but she added that recommendations
offered by the report to achieve the goals are not
feasible, as they do not reflect the core of the
Karabakh conflict and are based on misinterpreted
basic concepts.
Irina Beglarian said also Nagorno-Karabakh was
surprised at the report’s authors attempts to accuse
the OSCE Minsk group of monopolizing the peace
process. She said the Minsk group does not work at the
whim of separate diplomats or countries. The group is
mandated by the OSCE to help the parties to find a
mutually acceptable peace formula.