Azerbaijan, Baku, April 23 / Trend E. Ismayilov /
The EU is ready to assist in resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"The European Union has repeatedly offered its assistance to the belligerents, particularly, in the issue of creating trust between the parties," head of the EU office in Azerbaijan Roland Kobia told media today. "It has presented its proposals and is awaiting a response from the parties."
The EU is not included in the OSCE Minsk Group, which is directly involved in the conflict settlement, but the organization is ready to provide assistance in this issue, Kobia said.
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.