EU WELCOMES MOSCOW, HELSINKI DECLARATIONS ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Hurriyet
Dec 25 2008
Turkey

The European Union has welcomed the Nov.2 Moscow declaration and the
Dec.4 Helsinki declaration on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, EU foreign
policy chief Javier Solana told an Azeri news agency on Thursday.

It has become even clearer that a military solution to the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not an option after the Russia-Georgia
conflict in August, Solana told the Trend News Agency.

"In this spirit, we welcomed the Moscow declaration of 2 November and
the declaration of Helsinki of 4 December, as they confirmed that all
sides sign up to the need for a peaceful solution. We fully support
the Minsk Group and we ready to help in any way we can, for instance
through confidence-building measures and people-to-people contacts,"
he said.

The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia began in 1988 on Armenian
territorial claims over Azerbaijan. Since 1992 Armenian Armed Forces
have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan including the Nagorno-Karabakh
region and its seven surrounding districts.

Some 10 percent of the Azeri population was displaced due to a
series of bloody clashes both between and within the two neighboring
countries.

In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group are currently holding peaceful negotiations.

The conflict in Georgia has demonstrated the vulnerability of the
region as well as the complexity of the conflicts and the high risks
related to them, he added.

Regional cooperation and constructive dialogue are hence more essential
than ever for the region’s stability, prosperity and progress, he said.

"In this context, we welcomed the recent signs of rapprochement
between Armenia and Turkey as a basis for the normalization of
bilateral relations. We strongly encourage both parties to continue
this path and pursue constructive dialogue", Solana said.

Progress in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will also
facilitate the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and
Armenia, he said adding there is now a momentum that should not
be lost.

"We actively encourage any form of regional cooperation and
constructive dialogue leading to stronger ties between the countries
in the region as the best way to create prosperity and stability
for all. Don’t forget that the European Union is itself a very good
example of regional co-operation and of how conflicts can be overcome,"
he added.

Helsinki and Moscow declarations, signed by Armenian and Azerbaijani
officials, called for a "peaceful resolution" to the countries’
dispute over the province of Nagorno-Karabakh on the basis of "binding
international guarantees", taking a step further towards resolution
of the conflict.