Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

A European Parliament member has urged Armenia to act in line with international law and withdraw its troops from Nagorno-Karabakh, referring to an Azerbaijani region occupied by Armenia since a war between the two countries in the early 1990s.

In response to an inquiry of the European Azerbaijan Society about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Estonian MEP Kristiina Ojuland said an impression has formed that the international community is not paying enough attention to the conflict.

"It`s very sad that in the year 2013, we see that in the South Caucasus -- as a result of a conflict that has lasted for more than two decades now -- nearly one million people are still refugees and cannot return to their homes. I have the impression that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is still a bit underestimated by the international community," Ojuland said.

She said the European Union won the Nobel Peace Prize last year and therefore it should be its moral duty to contribute to a peaceful neighborhood.

Ojuland said the moment is there to fully implement the European Neighborhood Policy and enhance the peace process.

"On many occasions, in the European Parliament several colleagues and myself noted that international law and especially the United Nations Security Council resolutions need to be respected. Armenia must commit to the international legal framework and withdraw its troops from the Nagorno-Karabakh region," Ojuland said.

Armenia occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions, after laying territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor that caused a brutal war in the early 1990s. Long-standing efforts by US, Russian and French mediators have been largely fruitless so far.

According to Ojuland, over the past years Azerbaijan has displayed an increased openness to the West, including Europe.

"It is clear that the OSCE Minsk Group has not had decisive breakthroughs in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The European Union could increase the legitimacy of the Minsk Group if it takes a seat in it as one common actor representing 27 countries. In the meantime, the continued presence of an EU Special Representative in the South Caucasus is a sign that Europe is committed about the region and realizes that South Caucasus is a very interesting region on a geostrategic level. The EU will undoubtedly continue to pay a particular attention to the region," Ojuland said.

She added that one should know that the geopolitical environment in the South Caucasus is very complicated, not only in terms of geopolitics and strategically, but also on the level of energy security and diversification.

"Indeed, the strategic importance of Azerbaijan as a reliable energy supplier should not be underestimated," the MEP said.

According to Ojuland, Azerbaijan is a country that has seen incredible economic growth. "Along with economic growth the civil society has more resources in supporting democratic values," she said.

Ojuland also said energy is one of the key priorities in European politics nowadays.

"Indeed, the agreement on the Trans Adriatic Pipeline is perhaps the ultimate proof that the EU and Azerbaijan share a natural partnership through which almost any political consensus can be achieved," she said.