EU envoy warns against ‘missing chance’ on Garabagh settlement
The European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus
Peter Semneby visiting Baku has said a chance has emerged for
settling the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno)
Garabagh and it is crucial "not to miss it".
He told reporters after meeting Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov on Wednesday that substantial advances were accomplished in peace talks in 2009, calling for capitalizing on the opportunities that have emerged.
"If this chance is missed at a time the composition of the co-chairs [the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs brokering the negotiations] is changing, the process will drag on further."
The Russian Minsk Group co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov will soon be replaced.
Further, Semneby said that, besides the Garabagh problem, his discussions with Mammadyarov focused on EU-Azerbaijan relations, energy and the Iran issue.
The EU envoy’s remarks enable a conclusion that the developments ongoing in Iran have tangible implications for neighboring Azerbaijan. "Moreover, Azerbaijan has information about Iran that the EU lacks. Therefore, we deem as very important discussing the Iran issue with Azerbaijan."
Semneby also said several newly-appointed EU commissioners are due to visit Azerbaijan in the coming months, which will promote expanding bilateral relations. Semneby is expected to meet with representatives of Azerbaijani political parties on Thursday.*
He told reporters after meeting Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov on Wednesday that substantial advances were accomplished in peace talks in 2009, calling for capitalizing on the opportunities that have emerged.
"If this chance is missed at a time the composition of the co-chairs [the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs brokering the negotiations] is changing, the process will drag on further."
The Russian Minsk Group co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov will soon be replaced.
Further, Semneby said that, besides the Garabagh problem, his discussions with Mammadyarov focused on EU-Azerbaijan relations, energy and the Iran issue.
The EU envoy’s remarks enable a conclusion that the developments ongoing in Iran have tangible implications for neighboring Azerbaijan. "Moreover, Azerbaijan has information about Iran that the EU lacks. Therefore, we deem as very important discussing the Iran issue with Azerbaijan."
Semneby also said several newly-appointed EU commissioners are due to visit Azerbaijan in the coming months, which will promote expanding bilateral relations. Semneby is expected to meet with representatives of Azerbaijani political parties on Thursday.*
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