Peter Semneby: EU stands ready to facilitate further positive steps on the Turkish-Armenian and Karabakh settlement

"The European Union warmly welcomes the recent steps by Armenia and Turkey to normalize relations and hopes that it would positively impact on the Karabakh settlement, and the EU is ready to facilitate further positive steps", said Semneby.

According to him, there has appeared an opportunity to deal with problems in the region.

He noted that there are too many closed boundaries in the region, which impedes the economic development and resolving conflicts in the region, although in many cases, closed borders are a consequence of conflict and impede the communication and formation of an enemy image.

"It is necessary to solve the problem of closed borders and the establishment of the Armenian-Turkish dialogue will be a very significant contribution to security and stability in the region", said P. Semneby.

He stressed the need for the parties to follow the taken steps for resolution, and stressed the importance of maintaining the process, which can trigger the resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

At the same time, he refrained from commenting on statements by the Turkish leadership on the Karabakh conflict settlement preconditions for opening the Armenian-Turkish border.

"However, it should be noted that after the joint statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Turkey there has been formed a good opportunity for further progress", said P. Semneby.

In this aspect, he also stressed the vital importance and the need to advance negotiations on the basis of agreements already reached.

/Novosti-Armenia/