Azernews.Az

BAKU – The European Union is seeking active involvement in the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh and is ready to provide the necessary funds to help resolve the conflict and restore the region, a senior EU official has told Radio Liberty in an interview.

"We invest more and more to encourage confidence-building measures both in Transdnistria and Karabakh. But it's the beginning, since Brussels can afford more as commitment and willingness to resolve the conflict have grown," said EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule.

Fule said Brussels is committed to resolving the long-standing dispute, at the same time noting that the OSCE Minsk Group-mediated talks will continue. He said replacement of one of the co-chairs is not being considered.

"I guess, the parties and the Minsk Group ought to encourage EU involvement since we’re committed to do it," Fule said.

OSCE mediators have led negotiations on the conflict settlement since Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a fragile ceasefire in 1994 following a brutal war over Nagorno Karabakh. Ethnic Armenian forces backed by Yerevan have occupied the Nagorno Karabakh region and seven surrounding Azerbaijani districts since the war that displaced up to a million Azerbaijanis.

According to Fule, the EU may prepare a package of assistance for the parties when they come to a final agreement along with confidence-building measures.

"This package will include activities that will contribute to social and economic development. If necessary, the EU can also restore the infrastructure to link certain regions to other countries," Fule added.