EU Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia Peter Semneby commented on the events happened in the region in an interview with ANS PRESS.
«I am very pleased to note that negotiations to resolve the conflict accelerated. After the Prague meeting, held on 8 May, the Presidents agreed to hold a meeting on June 5-6 in St. Petersburg, the World Economic Forum. I share the hopes of the mediators of the OSCE Minsk Group – the United States, Russia and France – that the forthcoming meeting of the presidents in St. Petersburg is a new opportunity to bring together the positions of the parties », – said the EU Special Representative.
He also replied to a question whether the negotiating process to resolve the conflict can improve the increasing of intermediaries’ number.
«European Union, in order to achieve in the near future Azerbaijan and Armenia on the basis of the consent of the Madrid principles, bases on the attempts of the OSCE Minsk Group. But at the same time, there is still untapped and high potential, which can help the process of resolving the conflict. The program «Eastern Partnership» is a great opportunity for the European Union to help resolve the conflict. One out of four of our regional platform that will be created under this program – is the importance of establishing relationships between people », – noted P. Semneby.
Special Representative also commented on the role of road map on the issue of normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations.
«I regularly carry out negotiations with the governments of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey. The opening of borders in the Caucasus would create the opportunity to create a new momentum and to strengthen security and stability in the region. Our dream is to open the roads and all the borders in the region for the development of economic potential.
Normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict – separate processes, but they affect each other. We should try to use the positive impact that may be between these processes », – emphasized P. Semneby.
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