No Politically quick solutions in Georgia and Nagorno-Karabakh
25.09.2009 20:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ There is no politically quick solutions in Georgia
and Nagorno-Karabakh, Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger
said in New York, who on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, met
with the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkmenistan
Elmar Maharram oglu Mammadyarov, Grigol Vashadze and Rashid Maradov.

"We need a new pact for the Caucasus`, said Michael Spindelegger, who
met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Further
bilateral meetings are scheduled with the Foreign Ministers of Armenia
Edward Nabaldian, and Kazakhstan Kanat Saudabayev.
The topics to be discussed include on the one hand the continuation
and enhancement of the EU engagement in this region so important for
Europe, and, on the other, an increase in coordinated economic action.

"The conflicts in the Caucasus are a particular challenge especially
for the EU", reminded the Foreign Minister of the EU mission in the
Georgia conflict in 2008. "Today, the EU is the only international
organization present in Georgia with a monitoring mission, making a
significant contribution to stability and security in the entire
region. We must, however, remain realistic – there are no political
"quick fixes", neither in Georgia nor in Nagorno-Karabakh. For this
reason in particular, there is need for greater European
involvement. Europe must and will not turn its back on its immediate
neighbours", said Spindelegger. After all, the latest rapprochement
steps between Turkey and Armenia showed that movement is also possible
even in seemingly frozen conflicts.

At the same time, the region is regarded as one of the most promising
markets in Europe’s front yard. It houses rapidly growing markets and
raw material reserves that are indispensable for Europe. "The Caucasus
and Black Sea region is one of the most important and dynamic regions
in the European neighbourhood. The EU and Austria must not let the
opportunity to
bring it closer to EU pass by", Spindelegger continued. He added that
it is in the interest of the European Union to pay more attention to
this future market.

Austria has thus decided to open an embassy in Baku in the coming
year. "My objective is to intensify our contacts on all levels –
economic, political, cultural, and human. I am convinced that the
relations to the Black Sea region and to the Caucasus bear a great
potential which we can exploit together. There are diverse fields for
enhanced cooperation: economy, culture, science, security, and energy
supply. This is where we intend to dynamically develop our cooperation
step by step", Spindelegger concluded.