THORBJORN JAGLAND: THE MINSK GROUP CAN PAVE THE WAY FOR KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

armradio.am
14.11.2009 14:05

"OSCE Minsk Group is the only international process that can solve
Karabakh issue or at least pave the way for a peaceful solution,"
Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland told in
the interview with Azerbaijani APA news agency.

"Minsk process is very important. Conflicts are resolved in this way
and Europe is built in this way," he said.

"I must say that the parties’ membership to the Council of Europe is
an important factor because they have additional grounds in finding a
solution," the official said, adding that it would help the sides to
"find a quick and easy solution to the conflict."

Touching upon the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation and the interrelation
of the two regional processes, Jagland underlined that he considers
the process "can have a positive influence on the existing conflicts
in the region."

"The contradictions between countries from earlier times make it
impossible to make even small progress in resolving conflicts. That is,
the Turkey-Armenia rapprochement is a consequence of the presence of
universal norms and values in these countries because they are both
members of the Council of Europe. In such circumstances, it is natural
to seek solutions to existing problems. This is to some extent like
the processes that occurred in Europe after the Second World War,"
stated Jagland.