Azerbaijan, Baku, June 7 / Trend, I. Izzet /
The European Union pays more attention to the Transnistrian conflict, than the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, expert from the European Policy Centre Amanda Paul said at the panel "The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict: A Call to the EU" within the "EU-Azerbaijan: security and integration" conference today.
She said that the EU must pay more attention to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"Why does the EU pay more attention to the Transnistrian conflict? she asked. "The reason is that this conflict is on the EU's borders and several countries are looking to settle it. Moreover, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a threat to the whole region and the countries beyond it, as well as to energy and transport corridors. As opposed to previous years, today, there is no progress in the conflict's settlement. The EU sees itself in the conflict settlement as a supporting force, rather than a major player."
Latvian Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Viktors Makarovs stressed that the EU can do much work in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, because the organization has considerable potential for this.
"The EU must intensify its activity in the South Caucasus," he said. "Its presence in the region must be expanded. The EU has a lot of experience and potential. Though it can not assume a leading role in the conflict's settlement, the main issue is a shift in the conflict settlement. The Madrid principles must be taken into account. The requirements of international law must be used as a basis."
As a friend of Azerbaijan, Latvia wants to expand its relations with the EU and supports the integration of Azerbaijan into the organization, Makarovs 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 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.