NAGORNO-KARABAKH’S STATUS-QUO CANNOT BE PERPETUAL: SEMNEBY

Tert
Nov 2 2009
Armenia

Armenian-Turkish relations and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict are two
separate issues, said EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus
Peter Semneby in his interview with Russian paper Vremya Novostey.

"These are two different conflicts and they don’t need to be linked
with one other. Otherwise the doors opened for normalization of
relations can be closed again," he added.

Besides, the diplomat said it is evident, however, that "any
development in one of these issues affects the entire atmosphere. It
is necessary to do so that these two issues have only positive impact
on each other."

Stating that the conflict with Armenia in many aspects limited Turkey’s
opportunities in the South Caucasus, Semneby expressed confidence
that establishment of relations between Armenia and Turkey will create
new opportunities for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"In a sitution where the Armenian leadership encounters several
problems at the same time, establishment of relations with Turkey
gives them the opportunty to fix their attention on the next,
more complicated, issues. I am sure that the Armenian leadership
realizes that the present status-quo of Nagorno-Karabakh cannot be
perpetual and it is necessary to create correct conditions so that
the leadership can also deal with Nagorno-Karabakh issues," the EU
special representative stated.

Touching upon concessions by both sides, Semneby said they are clearly
described in the Madrid Principles. "Naturally, the most complicated
problems are in the details, but in general, the Madrid document
describes resolutions, according to which concessions are going to
be made by both sides. The most complicated issues which refer to
Nagorno-Karabakh’s status are postponed for an indefinite time-period."

"Both sides have made quite a progress in discussing decision-making
mechanisms. However, numerous issues still remain unresolved, which,
I am sure will be possible to resolve if favourable conditions are
created," the European diplomat concluded.