AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
Feb 25 2010

EU envoy warns against `missing chance’ on Garabagh settlement

25-02-2010 06:11:42
The European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus
Peter Semneby visiting Baku has said a chance has emerged for settling
the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh and it
is crucial `not to miss it’.
He told reporters after meeting Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov on
Wednesday that substantial advances were accomplished in peace talks
in 2009, calling for capitalizing on the opportunities that have
emerged.
`If this chance is missed at a time the composition of the co-chairs
[the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs brokering the negotiations] is
changing, the process will drag on further.’
The Russian Minsk Group co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov will soon be replaced.
Further, Semneby said that, besides the Garabagh problem, his
discussions with Mammadyarov focused on EU-Azerbaijan relations,
energy and the Iran issue.
The EU envoy’s remarks enable a conclusion that the developments
ongoing in Iran have tangible implications for neighboring Azerbaijan.
`Moreover, Azerbaijan has information about Iran that the EU lacks.
Therefore, we deem as very important discussing the Iran issue with
Azerbaijan.’
Semneby also said several newly-appointed EU commissioners are due to
visit Azerbaijan in the coming months, which will promote expanding
bilateral relations. Semneby is expected to meet with representatives
of Azerbaijani political parties on Thursday.*

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress