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EU Special Representative: Maintaining status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is unacceptable

Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict Materials 29 November 2012 17:30 (UTC +04:00)
Maintaining the status quo in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is unacceptable. The population needs to be prepared for peace, not for war, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Philippe Lefort said at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy today.
EU Special Representative: Maintaining status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is unacceptable

Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 29 / Trend E. Mehdiyev /

Maintaining the status quo in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is unacceptable. The population needs to be prepared for peace, not for war, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Philippe Lefort said at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy today.

Lefort said that preventing wars is one of the EU main priorities. War brings bad consequences to each region.

He also said that the EU will pay special attention to energy security.

"The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has brought bad consequences for both countries," he said. "Each side must demonstrate the will to resolve the conflict through negotiations and achieve a lasting peace."

Lefort said that the conflict must be resolved by ensuring the territorial integrity of the countries and rights of all people.

"The EU has urged the sides to implement all agreements and commitments in the framework of OSCE Minsk Group," he said. "EU is ready to provide support for the OSCE Minsk Group's activity."

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

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