DeFacto Agency, Armenia
March 23 2007
PETER SEMNEBY: PARTIES SHOULD RENDER DECISIONS OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL
March 23 the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic President Arkady Ghoukassian
received the European Union Special Representative for the South
Caucasus Peter Semneby, who is in Yerevan on a one-day visit, at the
NKR Permanent Representation in RA.
At a briefing held on completion of the meeting the EU Special
Representative for the South Caucasus stated the meeting was not like
negotiations. `’It was exchange of views over the situation in
Karabagh as a whole and around the talks”.
According to Peter Semneby, the fact that despite his promise this
time he did not visit the NKR either and met with the NKR President
in Yerevan is explained by lack of time.
When asked if the European structures put pressure on the leadership
of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh in the Karabakh settlement issue,
Peter Semneby noted the international community, first of all OSCE
Minsk group was waiting for the parties’ consent to the compromise
proposals. `’Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabagh should change
their stands”, the Special Representative stated, adding the parties
should render such decisions of their own free will.
In Peter Semneby’s words, the European Union can apply the levers of
the European security policy and Action Programs to support the talks
and MG OSCE efforts exerted at the Karabakh conflict settlement. The
Special Representative voiced confidence that the EU could do a lot
to establish the atmosphere of trust between the parties.
Explaining the fact that his visits to the region had become more
frequent, Peter Semneby said the European Union was interested in the
region, in part, the problems the region countries faced. `’It is
connected with the fact that besides the European Neighborhood policy
the EU develops substantial relations with all the countries of the
region. Taking into consideration that Bulgaria and Romania entered
the EU, it should be noted that the EU is becoming not an observer,
but an immediate participant of the events going on in the Great
Black Sea region”, Peter Semneby remarked.
The EU Special Representative refused to comment militarist
statements made in Azerbaijan. He just stated `’trust and
conciliation are necessary to settle the conflict”. `’The EU can
contribute to it”, he underscored.