British State Minister: Europe should intensify joint efforts to resolve Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

"The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is of great concern to the EU. We can make joint efforts to support the process of resolving this conflict more active," Lidington said today addressing the Azerbaijan University of Languages speaking on Azerbaijan's role in Europe.

Great Britain and its partners in the EU are interested in assisting Azerbaijan and Armenia to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, he said.

According to Lidington, recent armed incidents on the contact line also concerns Europe.

"The UK continues supporting the OSCE Minsk Group's efforts to assist the conflict sides to find peaceful and sustainable resolution of the conflict, and we will further support them," Lidington said.

He believes that the EU can offer more, particularly to more clearly define how it can assist Azerbaijan and Armenia after reaching the final decision [on conflict resolution].

"My visit to Baku aims at evaluating the directions in what the UK and the EU can provide effective assistance," Lidington said.

According to Lidington, the common security is one of the reasons why the UK strives for close partnership with Azerbaijan. The UK supports Azerbaijan's choice to integrate into the European and Euro-Atlantic organizations, because all that is happening in EU neighboring countries directly impact the EU, he said.

"The development of stable, safe, democratic societies in these countries help to strengthen the EU itself," Lidington said.


/Trend/