The ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone must be respected. Toivo Klaar, the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia, noted about this in an interview with APA news agency.

When asked his view on a five-point proposal which Azerbaijan submitted to Armenia to normalize relations, the EU Special Representative said: “Yes, this proposal was made publicly available on 14 March. As I said already in previous comments with other media outlets in the region, the European Union, like many in the international community, has been emphasizing the need for a comprehensive settlement to conflict-related issues. In this regard, any moves in that direction are welcome.

“Certainly, the Azerbaijani proposal is important, likewise, the Armenian response to the Azerbaijani proposal was made on the very same day. Again, what the European Union believes is important, is that these moves contribute to an environment conducive to discussions for a comprehensive settlement.”

Commenting on the assertion that the Armenian side allegedly does not fulfill paragraph 4 of the trilateral statement signed by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia, and to the question, “How will peace be possible if the militarization of Karabakh continues?” Klaar responded as follows: “Let me reiterate our great concern about the recent incidents near the Line of Contact. The ceasefire must be respected. The EU remains engaged at the highest level to facilitate direct discussions and a lowering of tensions with a view to ensuring a stable and peaceful environment.

However, while we call on all sides to respect their commitments under the trilateral statement of November 2020, I also wish to stress that the EU is not a signatory to that statement and is not in a position to review its implementation.”

And when asked how the war in Ukraine affects the discussions between the EU and Russia on Karabakh, Klaar responded: “

“As EUSR for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, I have in the past had regular consultations with Moscow, in particular with Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko and the Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group. These contacts are heavily impacted by the current war.

As I said already, the EU has been engaged at the highest level with Armenia and Azerbaijan over the past year, in particular through the personal involvement of the President of the European Council Charles Michel, but also through high-level meetings by European Commissioners, my visits and the daily work done by our Delegations in both countries.

The sides perceive the EU as an honest broker with a positive agenda for the region, which is something we value. I can assure you that our efforts to achieve sustainable peace in the South Caucasus will remain at a very high level.”