EU hails Azerbaijan, Armenia FMs meeting in Paris

By Yusuf Hatip

BRUSSELS

The EU said Friday the meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers sent "a positive signal for progress” in resolving the Upper Karabakh conflict.

“[…] most recently in Paris on 16 January 2019, [FMs of both countries] send a positive signal for progress in the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,” said the EU Commission spokesperson Maja Kocijancic in a statement.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and his Armenian counterpart Zohrab Mnatsakanyan agreed to continue negotiations in February on the Upper Karabakh dispute during a four-hour Wednesday meeting in Paris.

It was reported that the ministers exchanged views on the importance of building more understanding and confidence.

“The European Union is looking forward to the full implementation of their outcomes […” read the statement.

It added that a lasting peace would benefit everyone and “would help to enable the South Caucasus region to its potential.”

The meeting in Paris was mediated by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov of Russia, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the U.S., according to Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry.

Andrzej Kasprzyk, the personal representative of the OSCE chairman in office, also attended the meeting.

Karabakh – a disputed territory between Azerbaijan and Armenia – broke away from Azerbaijan in 1991 with military support from neighboring Armenia, and a peace process has yet to be implemented.

Three UN Security Council resolutions and two UN General Assembly resolutions refer to Karabakh as being part of Azerbaijan.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe refers to the region as being occupied by Armenian forces.

The Armenian occupation of Upper Karabakh led to the closing of the frontier with Turkey, which sides with Baku in the drawn-out dispute.