EU LEADER CALLS FOR KARABAKH MEMBERSHIP IN EUROPE

Asbarez
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

YEREVAN (Combined Source)–“The European Union should offer associate
membership to Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan,” said the
former Speaker of Slovakia’s parliament at a press conference Tuesday
after serving as an election observer in Sunday’s parliamentary vote
in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

In highlighting the importance of resolving the Karabakh conflict
to all of Europe, the former speaker, Frantisek Miklosko, said a
model resembling the confederation with the Netherlands, Belgium,
Luxemburg–known as the Benelux model–could be applied to the region,
once the countries accept European integration.

As a result of such a model, he said, the EU would promote the rapid
development of the three countries and will prepare them as future
candidates for EU membership.

“The future of all of Europe is being discussed in Nagorno-Karabakh
today. I can compare Europe with a huge strong chain, though, the
chain can be stronger if all its links are equally strong and there
is no weak link,” MikloÅ¡ko said, adding that the Karabakh conflict
resolution is closely being watch by all of Europe.

Ruling out war as a solution, Miklosko emphasized the need for
Azerbaijan to comprehend the urgency of the matter.

Milosko noted the positive efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group, adding,
however, that “it has reached a deadlock now because it defends the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan on one hand and the right to
self-determination of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh on the other
hand.”

In discussing the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic elections, Milosko
expressed surprise at European structures for not recognizing the
elections.

“What does Europe accept if not democracy?” he said.

“The elections in Nagorno Karabakh were held in a free, democratic
and exceptionally calm atmosphere, and fully corresponded to all EU
standards,” Milosko told the press conference.

From: A. Papazian