EU PRAISES CONTINUATION OF TALKS ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT: SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE

Trend News Agency
Aug 1 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 1 August /Trend News corr. I.Alizade/ The European
Union positively estimate continuation of negotiations between
Azerbaijan and Armenia on settling of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
and support them. "We are glad to see the negotiations going on
after a break," EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus
Peter Semneby said at a press conference on 1 August dedicated to
the results of his visit to Azerbaijan.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in
1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
lost the Nagorno-Karabakh, except of Shusha and Khojali, in December
1991. In 1992-93, Armenian Armed Forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and
Nagorno-Karabakh’s seven surrounding regions. In 1994, Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time the active
hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Russia,
France, and the U.S.) are currently holding peaceful, but fruitless
negotiations.

For peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 1992
about 10 OSCE countries established Minsk Group. Since 1997, Minks
Group includes co-chairmen from three countries – USA, Russia, France.

Semneby said he supports operation of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Special Representative said the sides try to achieve an agreement
enabling continuation of negotiations and relevant steps. "Possibly,
the agreement will not settle the conflict completely but will enable
a step forward," said Semneby.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress