Azernews.Az

YEREVAN – The European Parliament will not recognize Nagorno Karabakh, its chief Jerzy Buzek has said, referring to the Azerbaijani region under Armenian occupation where ethnic Armenians are running a self-proclaimed republic.

Asked by Panarmenian.net news portal if the European Parliament intended to forge ties with the rebel region’s "parliament", he said: "We always speak about the [territorial] integrity of countries. But at the same time, we cannot forget about the needs of ordinary people regardless of where they live, their right to travel, to establish contacts. We should always lend a helping hand and not let war happen. This is what the European Parliament’s policy is about."

Buzek added that in order to achieve a future settlement to the Karabakh conflict, it is necessary "to prepare the public" in Armenia and Azerbaijan for peace.

Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war over Nagorno Karabakh that ended with the signing of a precarious cease-fire in 1994. The separatist regime in Nagorno Karabakh held an illegal referendum in December 1991 with the participation of only Armenian residents. The voters supported so-called independence of the region, which has not been recognized by the international community.