EU HAILS NEGOTIATIONS ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT: SPECIAL ENVOY
Trend
Nov 16 2009
Azerbaijan
"The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Armenian-Turkish relations,
as well as energy issues, are the main topics we discussed at our
meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister
Elmar Mamedyarov," EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus
Peter Semneby said in Baku.
He did not comment specifically on his talks with the Azerbaijani
leadership.
Semneby said the frequent meetings between the Armenian and Azerbaijani
foreign ministers to resolve the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is a
positive factor in settling the conflict.
"There have been a great deal of meeting and these cannot result in
a loss," he added.
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.
According to Semneby, the EU see the opening of the Turkish-Armenian
border as a positive sign, "as it is in line with our vision of a
region where all borders will be open in the future, where people
can safely travel and trade flows."
He said the situation in the South Caucasus is complex. Three
important borders are closed, including the Turkish-Armenian,
Azerbaijanii-Armenian and Georgian-Russian.
It is necessary to start somewhere, Semneby said.
"We hope and insist on serious progress on this issue," the EU special
representative said.