CZECH DEPUTY PM: DIRECT TALKS ARE THE ONLY WAY FOR KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

armradio.am
07.05.2010 18:03

A stable and open Southern Caucasus region with all countries working
together is something the EU is strongly interested in, Jan Kohout,
Deputy Prime-Minister and Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic told
Trend on the eve of his visit to Azerbaijan on May 13-14.

"I hope that the updated Madrid document presented by the Co-chairs of
the Minsk Group during the meeting in Sochi at the end of January will
serve as a basis for the final compromise settlement", Kohout said.

According him, the Czech Republic is convinced that the only way to
the peaceful solution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is through
direct negotiations on the basis of all principles established within
the Minsk Group.

"Therefore, we welcome the last year’s intensification of the meetings
between Azerbaijani president and his Armenian counterpart. The EU
will support and encourage both countries to continue along this
path as the progress in this area would have a positive impact on
the region’s stability, security and prosperity," he said.

The EU itself serves as a proof that with the help of establishing a
network of links and contacts between countries and people to people
contacts old disputes and historical injuries can be overcome, he said.

"Therefore, the EU offered last year Eastern Partnership to both
Azerbaijan and Armenia as another platform for mutually beneficial
cooperation aiming, inter alia, to help you to find positive vision
towards the future," Kohout said.