Honorary President of Parliamentary Assembly of Western EU: Approach to the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia should be changed

How does Europe see the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict - as something distant or as a threat of not only regional, but also pan-European scale?

I think the approach to the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia should be changed. As a European representative from Belgium, I am absolutely convinced that the EU should take a clearer position on this issue which would be consistent with decisions taken by the international community long ago. I primarily mean the UN Security Council resolutions.

Do you think EU should become more activein solving security problems in South Caucasus on the backdrop of certain contradictions between United States and Russia, major mediators in settlement of the Karabakh conflict?
 
Of course. In fact, there are big powers which are major players in the region, but the EU must make its presence felt.

Do you believe the EU is not active enough?

I am surprised at too gentle and diplomatic language EU always had in regard to the Karabakh problem. There is one obvious thing - everyone has to respect territorial integrity of other states. This is fundamental principle of international law. It should be clearly and unambiguously stated also by the European Union. I believe this is our primary task.

Unfortunately, Karabakh has become a typical "frozen" conflict, which should not be. This conflict should be resolved as soon as possible. For this reason, the European Union as one of the participants in the negotiating process should, as I said earlier, take a specific position. This is my appeal to the EU, which often I repeat in Brussels.

It is known that the degree of attention of leading world powers to a particular region and its problems largely depends on presence of economic interests in that region. The EU member states have declared their interest in Azerbaijan’s energy resources. Historically, Russia has been main player in the Caucasus. In addition, recently other countries both within the region and outside it have become active enough. Is the European Union ready to compete with these forces for leading role in the region?

Without doubt, the economic component has always been paramount in the negotiations to resolve any conflict. It is quite obvious. On the other hand, in my opinion, this is a political conflict, and it should be resolved by politicians, without any influence of the economy. In this regard, I believe that the EU should not be guided by considerations of economic consequences, but must do what is necessary.

I want to emphasize that we should respect Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and the EU should announce it immediately as it happened with regard to Georgia in August 2008. Europeans should do the same with regard to Azerbaijan and should not resort to the destructive policy of "double" standards.


Day.Az