Azernews.Az

A European Union official has said the lack of confidence and "mutual fear" are the main obstacles to settling the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh.

EU special envoy for the South Caucasus Philippe Lefort told a news briefing in Baku Thursday that the EU, which places an emphasis on the settlement of regional conflicts, supports efforts of the mediating OSCE Minsk Group.

Lefort noted that both Azerbaijan and Armenia are victims of the long-standing conflict.

"I want to contribute to the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, which hampers the development of the region, and boost the relations between your country… and the European Union."

Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a brutal war that ended with the signing of a fragile cease-fire in 1994. About 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory, including the Nagorno Karabakh region, has been occupied by Armenian armed forces since then. Peace talks, brokered by the United States, Russia and France through the Minsk Group, have been largely fruitless so far.

He and the crisis in Georgia stressed the importance of South Caucasus for the EU. According to him, the 27-member bloc is particularly interested in gas exports from the resource-rich region.

"The region has enormous potential. It is a bridge between two seas. And after the conflicts impeding the development of the region are resolved, its importance will rise further."

Lefort said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is due to visit the region soon, but dates of the visit have yet to be scheduled.

Lefort added that he will frequently visit the region, and even come to Baku every month.

Lefort, a French diplomat of more than 20 years' experience who has devoted large parts of his career to the Caucasus and Russia, replaced Peter Semneby earlier this year. But Lefort’s remarks enable a conclusion that his mission is restricted compared to his predecessor’s, focusing only on regional policy and conflicts. He also replaced Pierre Morel, who served as EU’s Special Representative for the crisis in Georgia.

Lefort, who arrived in Baku on Wednesday as a part of his regional tour, has met with President Ilham Aliyev, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Parliament Speaker Ogtay Asadov as well as civil society representatives.