Baku rules out EU mediation in restoring regional peace
Azerbaijan does not consider the European Union to be a suitable
mediator in restoring peace to the region, Deputy Foreign Minister
Araz Azimov has said.
"The EU is a powerful economic and political union of countries. But this organization has yet to reach the needed level in terms of taking concerted action, particularly in this fast-changing situation. The EU cannot act instrumentally," Azimov told a recent conference of the Centre for European Policy Studies in Brussels.
Further, he emphasized that the OSCE Minsk Group (MG), which is seeking to broker a settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, is made up of a number of EU members, and Azerbaijan takes their positions into account.
"We need the EU`s influence as a player in international relations. But we don`t think this entity is a potential ally within the MG," the deputy minister said.
In response to the statement, Peter Semneby, the EU envoy for the South Caucasus, said the 27-member bloc supported the MG. He added, however, that he saw no changes taking place in the EU`s position in terms of joining the MG as a full-fledged member.
"The EU is a powerful economic and political union of countries. But this organization has yet to reach the needed level in terms of taking concerted action, particularly in this fast-changing situation. The EU cannot act instrumentally," Azimov told a recent conference of the Centre for European Policy Studies in Brussels.
Further, he emphasized that the OSCE Minsk Group (MG), which is seeking to broker a settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, is made up of a number of EU members, and Azerbaijan takes their positions into account.
"We need the EU`s influence as a player in international relations. But we don`t think this entity is a potential ally within the MG," the deputy minister said.
In response to the statement, Peter Semneby, the EU envoy for the South Caucasus, said the 27-member bloc supported the MG. He added, however, that he saw no changes taking place in the EU`s position in terms of joining the MG as a full-fledged member.
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