Brussels, 17/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - At the Cooperation Councils on Monday 17 December, the EU called on Azerbaijan and Armenia to maintain stability in Nagorno-Karabakh and to abstain from any threatening or aggressive declarations and from actions likely to increase tension, stressing its concerns over the frontline. “The status quo is unacceptable. The resolution of this conflict remains an absolute priority”, said Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, and Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Füle. “There is no place in the region for this conflict (…). It is hindering growth and investment in large infrastructure projects. Twenty years of mediation have not managed to find a sustainable solution”, Kozakou Marcoullis lamented. She went on to call on the Azeris and the Armenians to afford access to Nagorno-Karabakh to the EU high representative for foreign affairs. The minister and the mommissioner pointed out that the EU supports co-financing measures and is prepared to help in resolving the conflict in addition to the Minsk group, whose efforts it supports.
The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, respectively Elmar Mammadyarov and Edward Nalbandian, have acknowledged that the status quo is “unacceptable”, whilst showing the differences of opinion on understanding the conflict. “The situation is ridiculous, we are all losing out (…). We must double, even triple our efforts. The Armenian troops must withdraw from the occupied territory”, explained Mammadyarov, who also stressed the need to respect the right of the Armenian community to live in dignity and the importance of the territorial integrity of the country.
The Armenian minister called on Azerbaijan to accept the proposals of the Minsk group, which recommend that the status of Nagorno-Karabakh be decided on by its population. “If we want change to resolve the conflict, he (the Azeri foreign minister) must accept the proposals of the international community”, Nalbandian stressed. (CG/transl.fl)