EU SHOULD TAKE CLEAR STANCE ON KARABAKH
Leyla Tagiyeva

news.az
April 21 2010
Azerbaijan

News.Az interviews Stephan Goris, honorary president of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Western European Union.

What can you say about the current state of the Karabakh conflict
settlement?

It is a very important issue. I am sure that all South Caucasus
countries suffer from this unsettled conflict as it hampers democratic
and socioeconomic reforms. I believe that this casts a shadow on
the South Caucasus region overall. I think that the Karabakh problem
should be problem number one on the agenda of both parties.

How do you assess possible resolution of the Karabakh conflict by
the end of the year?

This conflict should have been settled long ago. I do hope it will be
settled by the end of this year, but unfortunately, I cannot predict
a settlement for sure.

Do you think that the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations
and the Karabakh conflict have nothing to do with each other?

I think we should not confuse different things. I would like to call
on all participants, in particular, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
and both conflict countries, to continue negotiations on the conflict
settlement. That is all I can say for the moment.

Baku says that the negotiations on Karabakh may enter deadlock due
to Armenia’s attempts to protract the process. Yerevan is not facing
any pressure either from the mediators or the international community.

What do you think is the solution?

I think that first of all the resolutions of the Security Council
that respect the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be observed
by all parties, including the European Union. I think the EU should
take a clear position which we do not see now. I urge the EU to take
an unambiguous position in line with gthe UN resolutions.

But what can Azerbaijan do when the resolutions of the UN Security
Council are ignored?

Azerbaijan needs the support of the Minsk Group participants and
the international community. Azerbaijan already has support on paper
but I think there is a need to urge the countries to provide greater
support in the area of negotiations.