EU PREFERS PERSUASION TO SANCTIONS

Panorama.am
17:08 24/07/06

Peter Semneby, EU special representative in South Caucasus held a
joint press conference with Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanyan
today. Talking about Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, Semneby said
EU is not involved in Karabakh conflict settlement but is watchful to
the process and is ready to take steps that will step up mutual trust.

In his words, EU is concerned about any proposal that will suggest
military solution to the conflict. Asked what sanctions will EU impose
on the party which will take up military measures, Semneby advised
to change the word "sanction" to "persuasion". "We would rather talk
the parties into refraining from such statements because they do not
stem from their own interests," he said.

The Armenian foreign minister also thinks that Azerbaijan should be
talked into returning to negotiation table and first of all relies
on Mathew Bryza to accomplish that mission.

Oskanyan reiterated Armenian’s disposition to the proposed formula
saying that only Azerbaijan has "problems" with it./Panorama.am/