NATO has urges the parties to the Karabakh conflict to express political will and solve the conflict through negotiations.

In response to the questions of Armenian service of Radio Liberty addressed to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, NATO called on the parties to be constructive.

According to the alliance, such a protracted continuation of conflicts raises special concern for the allies. NATO continues considering the peace and stability in the Caucasus region as a fundamental element of Euro-Atlantic  security, the response reads. Mr Stoltenberg also expressed readiness on behalf of NATO to cooperate with the countries in the region both in political and practical framework.  

Moreover, NATO stressed that the conflict is not only a reason for concern, but it hinders the peoples of the region as members of Euro-Atlantic community from achieving their full potential.

Responding to Radio Liberty’s question on whether Karabakh should also take part in the talks, NATO announced that although they play no role in the negotiations, they have a vested interest in the process and encourage all the parties to continue the efforts towards the peaceful settlement of the conflict.

NATO also announced that it continues to support the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Armenia and Azerbaijan. In this context, the alliance will continue to back all the efforts towards the peaceful settlement of the conflicts in South Caucasus on the basis of the aforementioned principles and international law, as well as UN Charter and Helsinki Final Act.

NATO declined to express its opinion on how it is possible to avoid human losses on the frontline, and whether the snipers should be removed from there.  

According to the alliance, the OSCE Minsk Group is the one pushing the negotiation efforts. NATO fully supports the role of the Minsk Group and sees no need in its separate role. The policy of the alliance in the South Caucasus hasn’t changed, the response reads.