“A stable and open Southern Caucasus region with all countries working together is something the EU is strongly interested in,” Czech Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Jan Kohout told in an interview with Trend.az agency on the threshold of his visit to Azerbaijan on May 13-14.

“I hope that the updated Madrid document presented by the Co-chairs of the Minsk Group during the meeting in Sochi at the end of January will serve as a basis for the final compromise settlement,” the source quotes Czech official.

According to him, Czech Republic is certain that the only way to peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is direct negotiations in compliance with principles formulated in the frames of OSCE Minsk Group, including “respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of the internationally recognized borders,” Kohout stated.

“Therefore, we welcome the last year’s intensification of the meetings between Azerbaijani president and his Armenian counterpart. The EU will support and encourage both countries to continue along this path as the progress in this area would have a positive impact on the region's stability, security and prosperity,” Foreign Minister declared.

He also added that this is why “EU offered last year Eastern Partnership to both Azerbaijan and Armenia as another platform for mutually beneficial cooperation aiming, inter alia, to help you to find positive vision towards the future,” Trend reads.