Sweden, Stockholm, Jan. 9 / .Trend U. Sadikhova /
Ex-head of Political Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Goran Lindblad is to begin a project, which will allow European politicians and organizations to get better acquainted with the current situation around Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in mid-January.
The project of the former head of the Swedish delegation in PACE will be held under the coordination of Azerbaijani- European community (TEAS), based in London.
"I will advise the TEAS and will lobby the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through European politicians," - said Lindblad. in an interview with a correspondent of Trend. - The project includes meetings with my colleagues in the European Council and European Parliament. I have already discussed with politicians from Finland, Belgium, Holland and Spain, and am planning to appeal to all members of the EU and PACE.
In addition to working with European politicians, Lindblad plans to cooperate with the Azerbaijani parliamentarians.
"At present we have no direct contact with Baku, but, of course, I am planning to get in touch with colleagues in Parliament" - he said.
The main objective of the Lindblad`s project, a former member of the Swedish Parliament from the Moderate Party, aims to strengthen the propaganda among European policy makers regarding resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the level of which in his opinion, is still low.
"The only way to reach a progress - is to raise awareness and familiarity, otherwise nothing will happen" - said Lindblad. - The level of awareness [about the Nagorno-Karabakh], within the European public, including politicians, is quite low. "
The negotiation process to resolve the conflict under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group, according to Lindblad, is very slow, given the lack of pressure from the EU.
"If the European political establishment would be better informed and aware, then it is able to exert pressure with its Russian counterparts. Without the pressure of European countries, nothing significant will happen "- said Lindblad.
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, with the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, comprising Russia, France, and the U.S., 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 surrounding regions.