The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, welcomed, on Sunday 13 June, the actions taken by Armenia and Azerbaijan and facilitated by Georgia, which led to the release by Azerbaijan of 15 Armenian detainees and the handing over by Armenia of maps of mined areas.
“These are important humanitarian and confidence-building gestures by Baku and Yerevan that will hopefully open the path for further cooperation between the sides and the ultimate release of all Armenian detainees, as well as the handing over of all available maps of mined areas to avoid further civilian casualties”, Mr Borrell said in a statement. He urged further cooperation between the countries involved.
The High Representative also reiterated the EU’s call on Armenia and Azerbaijan to reengage in substantive negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.
For his part, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, who met the leaders of the two countries on 2 June (see EUROPE 12733/11), welcomed these “parallel humanitarian gestures” as a “first step towards renewing trust”. He added that the EU would continue to offer assistance to improve progress. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)