168 Zham Newspaper: Role of EU in the Process of Regulation of Nagorno-Karabagh Conflict

Editorial

For more than 15 years the issue of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement has been a priority for Armenia’s foreign and inner policy. From this point of view Armenia’s relations with the European Union are very important as well. The importance of settling the conflict is written in almost all documents signed between Armenia and this institution. If in the relations with some other institutions (for example, the CoE) it is written as a responsibility, the format of cooperation between the EU and Armenia over the issue of Karabakh can be considered a new opportunity to settle the conflict. The so-called “big-document”, i.e. the new European Neighborhood Policy, which regulates Armenia’s relations with the EU, in fact may highly support for the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. It is not about the specific mechanisms in the project only, but about the political component, too. The European Union wants to have neighbors, enjoying good relations not only with the EU, but also with each other. In a word, the final goal of the ENP is providing efficient cooperation within the European family,. From this point of view it may become an opportunity and a new platform for the settlement of the conflict of Karabakh. Certainly the EU does not formally participate in the negotiations and supports the OSCE’s policy. It is apparent that in the recent period the EU is active in the region and is more interested in supporting long-term peace in our region.  “Increase political support to the OSCE Minsk Group, to support the work to settle the conflict according to international norms and the principle of territorial integrity, examine the possibility of providing human aid and mine clearing support… continue efforts aimed at settling the regional and other related issues in cooperation with neighboring countries, as well as support reconciliation,” writes the European Neighborhood Policy action plan. Especially since the recent development in  Armenia-Turkey relations the EU has committed to supporting these relations. Even though the relations of the conflict settlement and Armenia-Turkey reconciliation are not formally connected, from the long-term prospective the EU views this issue in the same context. It is the context of long-term peace in the small and big region.

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There will be influence

“The European Union appreciates the improvement in the Armenia-Turkey relations and expects further improvement in the process,” said Peter Semneby when commenting on the current processes of development of Armenia-Turkey relations. “I think the parties have achieved more than many others might think. It is very important for us that our partners and the direct neighbors of the European Union, Armenia and Turkey, develop normal relations. Certainly the signing of the protocols between Armenia and Turkey is an inner process and should be discussed by the two parliaments. We hope and expect that the protocols will be ratified as soon as possible as we believe the normalization of the relations and content of the protocols are in the interests of the two parties,” said Semneby. Answering a question on how closer the conflict of Karabakh and development of Armenia-Turkey relations are interconnected Peter Semneby said, “Officially there is no connection, but no one can ignore the fact that every conflict, depending on the direction of its settlement, will have an influence on maintaining trust between the countries of the region”.

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