"2011 can be considered a really important year in terms of EU
engagement in the process of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,"
Roland Kobia, head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan, told journalists
on Thursday.
"There have been a lot of direct and indirect calls for greater EU
involvement in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution," he said,
adding that the EU was really committed to supporting the peace process.
He reminded journalists that this year the EU's foreign policy chief,
Catherine Ashton, had appointed a new special representative, Ambassador
Philippe Lefort, who has a specific mandate to support the OSCE Minsk
process to resolve the Karabakh conflict.
"I think this is a clear, strong signal from Catherine Ashton that the
EU is interested in resolution of this conflict. She decided to continue
the post and even to focus its mandate on the conflict. This is a sign
that the EU is answering the request of Azerbaijan and others to be more
active on this. We are not members of the Minsk Group, but we are close
to the Minsk Group and try to support it," the ambassador said.
The EU recognizes that the status quo in the conflict is no longer
acceptable and a durable peace should be reached, he continued.
"We are very committed to this and I think in 2012 we will see a stronger EU engagement in supporting the process of the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."
The status quo refers to the stalemate that has prevailed in the conflict since Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a cease-fire in 1994. Armenian forces still occupy Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven surrounding Azerbaijani districts with some million displaced Azerbaijanis unable to return home.
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