Renunciation of Violence and Peace Talks: EU’s Call for Resolution in the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

2023-07-15 21:41:17

The EU has called for a renunciation of violence following renewed talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region. “First of all, violence and harsh rhetoric should stop in order to create a suitable environment for peace and normalization talks,” said Council President Charles Michel on Saturday in Brussels. He had previously met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan there.

The talks are intended to end hostilities that have been going on for decades. “Real progress depends on the next steps that need to be taken in the near future,” Michel said on behalf of the European Union. Local people need reassurances, especially regarding their rights and safety. Aliyev and Pashinyan did not comment following the meeting.

In addition to the EU, the USA is also urging the parties to the conflict to conclude a peace agreement. Most recently, the foreign ministers of the USA, Armenia and Azerbaijan met in Washington at the end of June.

Russia also wants to exert influence. The government in Moscow is a formal ally of Armenia, but also strives for good relations with Azerbaijan. The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday it was ready to organize a tripartite meeting with Armenia and Azerbaijan at foreign ministerial level. This might be followed by a summit in Moscow to sign a peace treaty.

From the point of view of the United Nations, Nagorno-Karabakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), which is predominantly inhabited by Armenians, belongs to Azerbaijan. However, the enclave declared its independence from the government in Baku in 1991. The two ex-Soviet republics have been fighting over the area for decades. By 2020, the conflict had escalated into a war that ended with a Russian-brokered ceasefire.

Tensions had intensified once more in the spring. Despite repeated attempts at negotiations, fundamental agreements are still pending. Among other things, it is regarding demarcation lines and the exchange of prisoners.

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