Further EU involvement in conflicts' resolution

The report entitled "Renewing the European Neighbourhood Policy" states that the EU is ready to intensify its involvement in the settlement of protracted conflicts. According to the report, the union must prepare to increase its participation in issues where it has not been presented so far, such as the OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. According to experts, no revolutionary changes in the structure of the mediators involved in the settlement of the conflict will take place. "Following the example of Russia we will increase the intensity of dialogue platforms, which will discuss various aspects of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," - told Trend the deputy dean of the Department of History at Moscow State University, editor-in-chief of information-analytical agency Vestnik Kavkaza, Alexei Vlasov on the phone from Moscow. According to him, the EU initiatives will take their place in increasing dynamics of a dialogue between Baku and Yerevan with the mediating countries.

Moreover, in his opinion, the EU initiative will be implemented above all through France, which is the co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group. “Germany, for example, has its interests in participating in the settlement of conflicts in the South Caucasus, but they are not as pronounced and are stretched in time, - said Vlasov. - Germany is unlikely to abandon the chosen mode of behavior." France in this regard, he said, is more flexible and dynamic; therefore its role as one of the leading intermediaries in the Minsk Group will grow in the near future.

In general, the experts welcomed the new initiative in the conflict settlement. "I am an optimist and I think that any mediation efforts are appropriate," - said the analyst. However, in his opinion, goodwill of its parties is needed in the first place for its settlement. In addition, Vlasov said, that the participation of Russia in the settlement process will play a greater role than the efforts of the European Union in the future, because at the moment Baku and Yerevan are willing to accept Moscow as the chief mediator. “However we cannot but welcome the EU's desire to play a more active, more productive role in resolving the protracted conflict,” - said the expert.

The conflict between the two South Caucasian republics began in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts - 20% of Azerbaijani territory - are currently under Armenian occupation. In May 1994 a ceasefire was reached, and peaceful negotiations are still taking place under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by Russia, France and the United States. UN Security Council resolutions on the liberation of occupied Nagorno-Karabakh territories and surrounding areas have not yet been met by Armenian authorities.