The European Union (EU) Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Herbert Salber, shared his vision for the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at a meeting in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan, with a group of NGO representatives.
Salber regretted that the long-term efforts of the mediators and the parties to the conflict themselves have not led to progress in resolving the conflict.
He expressed concern that the escalation of the contact line is not terminated, and “almost every day people are dying,” he said, reported Contact.az news agency of Azerbaijan.
In his words, resolution of the conflict is hardly possible without mutual compromise, and it is necessary to continue the work of civil society in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Karabakh to search for reconciliation.
“In the end, the solution of the conflict will depend on the ordinary citizens, but now we can talk only about the settlement,” said Salber.
As for the respective position of the EU, the Brussels supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group and cannot play a major role in this process. Changes in the structure of the Minsk Group, or the involvement of other intermediaries for the settlement, are unlikely.
“The OSCE Minsk Group is engaged in this for more than 20 years, they have gained experience and have built up various proposals for this time. It is hardly possible and productive to reject and start from the beginning,” said Salber.
Regarding the role of the EU, Brussels is ready to support projects and actions aimed at strengthening the confidence-building measures and contacts between the conflicting parties. If we can reach an agreement, the EU will allocate funds to overcome the effects of hostilities, he said.
“We must be prepared to make compromises, but we do not see it. We cannot solve the conflict instead of its participants,” he said.
Salber also considered incorrect the comparison of the Karabakh conflict and other conflicts, and opposed comparing Europe and actions in relation to the situation in Ukraine and in Karabakh. According to him, each conflict has its own history and roots.
“It is counterproductive to compare them. In addition, in each case there are geopolitical interests of certain powers,” Herbert Salber added.
