Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 4 / Trend E.Tariverdiyeva /
A unique window of opportunity has now opened for the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, European Expert on the South Caucasus Amanda Akcakoca believes.
"It became possible thanks to a new dynamism in the region brought about by new realities in the aftermath of the Russia-Georgia war which has been enhanced by President Obama's willingness to reset relations with Moscow, the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement, a more active EU and a willingness by the West to revisit the debate on European security," European Policy Center expert Akcakoca wrote Trend in an e-mail.
The Greek chairmanship of the OSCE made a statement on the process of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement on Dec. 2 as a result of the Athens meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers.
The statement was adopted as a result of the meting of the foreign ministers of France, Russia and the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State and the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The statement provides full support to the Azerbaijani and Armenian leadership in peacefully resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, based on the Madrid document in order to immediately begin preparation of a comprehensive peace agreement.
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.
According to the expert, the resolution of the Karabakh conflict should be a top priority for the EU in a region of increasingly geostrategic importance to the Club.
Only resolution of this conflict will bring significant stability and prosperity to the South Caucasus which is important for many reasons including energy security.
"EU Foreign Minister Baroness Ashton should underline her support by traveling to both Baku and Yerevan, helping to nudge both leaderships into going the remaining distance to reach agreement on the Basic Principles," she said.
The expert said the EU must be ready to step in at any time and it will be a good test for the EU's newly ratified Lisbon Treaty and its restructured diplomatic service.
Clearly the US must maintain the momentum (together with partners in Moscow) to get a deal agreed, the expert believes.
"But most of all the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan must reach deep into their souls and find the courage agreed a solution that will change the face of the South Caucasus forever," she added.
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