MORATINOS: THE EU WILL UPHOLD ITS EFFORTS TOWARDS PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF THE KARABAKH ISSUE
Anna Nazaryan
"Radiolur"
02.03.2010 15:09
The European Union intends to assume an important role in the world
and is working seriously with Armenia, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel
Angel Moratinos said at a joint press conference with Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian.
The new European Union wants to conclude an Association Agreement
with Armenia. "We attach importance to the cooperation with countries
interested in easing the visa regime. We have created a sub-committee
on issues of justice, which will accelerate the process of conclusion
of the agreements on privileged visa regime, we are working out a
roadmap," Moratinos said, adding that "the Armenia-EU relations should
grow stronger within the framework of the Eastern Partnership Program."
The European Union will continue making efforts to reach a settlement
on the Nagorno Karabakh issue. Mr. Moratinos reminded that the Madrid
Principles were worked out in 2007 under the Spanish Presidency of
the OSCE.
Commenting on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s statement that the
use of force is a decisive factor in international practice, Armenia’s
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said: "It was the application of
force by Azerbaijan that caused the Karabakh conflict, and it is the
threat of use of force that hinders the resolution of the issue today."
Touching upon the process of possible establishment of Armenian-Turkish
relations, Miguel Angel Moratinos said he hopes the protocols will be
ratified without preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe. "The
European Union welcomes the statements of the Presidents of Armenia and
Turkey. The EU wishes to get more actively involved in the process,"
the Spanish Foreign Minister said.
Referring to Turkish Prime Minister Erdogam’s statement that the wrong
steps on March 4 and April 24 could hamper the reconciliation process,
Minister Nalbandian said "It’s Turkey’s statements that impede the
process. It’s the return to the language of preconditions that hurts
the process of Armenian-Turkish normalization. We hope Turkey will
stop creating artificial difficulties, and we’ll have a chance to
move forward in line with the agreements reached."