YEREVAN.- Lithuania’s Ambassador to Armenia Giedrius Apuokas said confidence building measures are necessary between the parties to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

One of the necessary measures is establishing a direct communication between local (Armenian and Azerbaijani) field commanders which would help eliminate misunderstanding, he said.

Lithuanian diplomat expressed confidence that settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is long and painful due to lack of confidence between the parties.

”It is very difficult to agree on specific steps, if you do not communicate, ” he said adding it is necessary to establish contacts between societies, as well as cooperation between NGOs and young people of two states. Apuokas considers the forms can be different, including the EU.

However, it should be mentioned that it is the Azerbaijani side that torpedoes all attempts of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh to establish contacts, no matter what contacts in particular are offered.   

In particular, proposal to establish direct contacts between the field commanders made by Giedrius Apuokas was repeatedly voiced by representatives of the Armenian Armed Forces. However, the Azerbaijani side refuses to even discuss the proposal.