Azerbaijan, Baku, July 5 / Trend A. Badalova/
The European Union (EU) stands ready to provide extra assistance for confidence-building measures in the issue of the resolution of Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the EU's European Council President Herman Van Rompuy told journalists in Baku on Thursday.
"The EU will continue to insist that Azerbaijan and Armenia step up the effort to reach an agreement," he said.
He believes that Madrid Principles remain the main valid basis for peace.
"I did regret for the lost of human lives on the line of contact, but the clock can't be turned back of this tragic incident but lessons can be learnt," Rompuy added.
He said the efforts of the OSCE Minsk group and its co-chairs to see the peaceful resolution have full support of the EU.
"Reaching a solution will take time, and building trust is the first step toward finding a solution of the conflict. Without trust there will never be peace," Rompuy added.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven 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 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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