EU IS READY TO ASSIST IN IMPLEMENTING THE AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED BETWEEN THE PARTIES TO THE KARABAKH CONFLICT – FOREIGN MINISTER OF SWEDEN
Trend News Agency
July 20 2009
Azerbaijan
EU is ready to assist in implementing the agreement to be signed
between the parties to the Karabakh conflict, said on Monday at a
briefing in Yerevan the head of the delegation of the EU Troika,
Foreign Minister of Sweden Carl Bildt, Novosti-Armenia reported.
"The EU is ready to assist in the implementation of the agreement,
which we hope can be signed as soon as possible on the issue of
Karabakh settlement, for which we support the OSCE Minsk Group",
said Bildt.
He noted that the EU looks forward to the continuation of negotiations
held in Moscow on 18th July between the Presidents of Azerbaijan and
Armenia, Ilham Aliyev and Serj Sargsyan.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed
forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are currently
holding the peace negotiations.