EUROPE WON’T STAY IN SHADE OF US AND EUROPE
By Gayane Movsisian
Yerkir.am
March 24, 2006
Karabakh settlement process has been paused. On March 20, the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs met in Istanbul to discuss the settlement but
there us news from them so far.
One more report by the International Crisis Group released recently
says the South Caucasus countries are currently engaged in a
no-war-no-peace situation which could transform into military
operations, and Europe will not be prepared for an adequate reaction.
The report says to ensure its own security Europe should engage in
the conflict settlement more actively to avoid wars near Europe’s
borders. “Only recently did Brussels react strongly to those
challenges. Several promising steps were taken but there is still a
long way to go,” said Sabina Fraizer, ICG’s Caucasus Program director.
With a reputation of fair mediator and having both soft and tough
leverage methods, the European Union is in a position to play a greater
role and add to the efforts of the United Nations and the OSCE, the
ICG believes, which suggests that settling the sides should presume
the obligations to settle the conflict through peaceful means only.
Besides, the ICG suggests that a special observer’s status be given
to EU special representative in the talks for Abkhaz, South Ossetian
and Karabakh conflicts.
“The EU has contributed greatly in the work to restore Abkhazia and
South Osetia. It should evaluate what it could do in Karabakh and
adjacent regions,” the report says.
Judging from the statements EU Special chairman Peter Semnebi mad
in Baku during his recent visit the European Union is preparing for
a new role. “My mandate is extended to include large authority to
settle the ‘frozen conflicts.’ I will be carefully watching all the
aspects of conflict situations and then submit recommendations for
the leadership,” said Semnebi, adding also that the EU’s contribution
could be in sending observing missions, peacekeepers or rehabilitation
of the territories. Besides, beginning March 1, 2006, the office of
the OSCE South Caucasus office moved from Finland to Brussels which
is due to growing interest in the region.
Peter Semnebi is set to visit Armenia in April. It is likely that
the EU would assume more active role in the region by then.