I hope that the page of hostility and violence will finally be turned once and for all, for the benefit of all segments of the population in the region, including the Karabakh Armenians. The EU has been very clear on this issue: the issue of the elevation of Karabakh Armenians will be part of the normalization process. I expect direct negotiations between Baku and them (Karabakh Armenians - ed.) on their safe and dignified return to their native region. This was stated in an interview with jam-news.net by the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Toivo Klaar, who will soon leave his post.
"Azerbaijan has obligations in this regard, which I think it does not deny.
The parameters and conditions for such a future must be found and agreed upon through inclusive and mutually respectful dialogue. Normalization to me means no open wounds, and therefore this issue should be part of a broader peace process.
Sometimes other issues are raised in this context, such as the issue of the so-called "West Azerbaijan." For me, these are completely different issues that should not be mixed.
The first is the promotion of the return of the Karabakh Armenians to their ancestral homes, which is an obligation of Azerbaijan. The second is the issue of Armenians who used to live in other parts of Azerbaijan, including Baku, or Azerbaijanis who used to live in Armenia.
Naturally, they should also be able to visit the places where they lived or even return there, and this should also be a consequence of normalization.
However, this is a completely different issue from the specific issue of the Karabakh Armenians.
I strongly believe that the release of all prisoners, good and effective cooperation of all sides in the fate of missing persons as well as in demining efforts are crucial elements for lasting peace and for finally turning the page on hostility and violence.
And I am sad that we have not yet been able to move forward on these issues. I am sure that this will remain a key issue for my successor.
Before the 2020 war, the EU played a much less prominent role. Our task was mainly to support the efforts of the main international format, the Minsk Group, and its co-chairs.
After the 2020 war, the EU, largely at the request of the parties themselves, began to play a more prominent role, culminating in a series of high-level trilateral meetings between President Michel, President Aliyev of Azerbaijan, and Prime Minister Pashinyan of Armenia.
I believe that these meetings - in addition to efforts undertaken by other international players - provided the two leaders with the necessary space to reach a common understanding on the core issues: a peace treaty, border delimitation and demarcation, the resumption of regional economic and transportation ties, and humanitarian issues. In recent months, the bilateral track between Armenia and Azerbaijan has managed to produce concrete positive results.
The EU is ready to mediate again, if the parties so request. A peace agreement would only be a starting point on the road to normalization of relations between Yerevan and Baku.
Peace-building efforts should include confidence-building and reconciliation between people. The EU has supported such activities for many years to help create an environment conducive to real peace.
The international community will need to remain engaged, both politically and financially, even after a peace agreement is signed. But the onus, as it is now, will remain on the leadership in Yerevan and Baku not to stop halfway, but to keep going all the way towards the full normalization of relations not only between governments, but also between peoples," Toivo Klaar noted.
