The EU's new envoy for the South Caucasus has described both Azerbaijan and Armenia as victims of the Karabakh conflict.
Philippe Lefort told a joint press conference in Yerevan with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian that the EU wanted to assist the OSCE Minsk Group in its mediation to find a solution to the conflict.
“The European Union has mechanisms and experience in monitoring and supporting peace processes and expresses the wish to provide assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan, as we think that both states are victims of the conflict,” News.am reported Lefort as saying.
He told the press conference he had first visited Armenia back in 1988 after the devastating earthquake.
“I became familiar with the history of Soviet Armenia, its achievements and difficulties. I am pleased to accept my new mission which gives the opportunity to visit your country more often.”
After long debates, the EU decided to preserve the post of special representative for the South Caucasus and to combine it with the post of special representative for the crisis in Georgia.
"This post is very important as the EU attaches importance to the region which has great potential for economic and cultural development after peace is established,” Lefort said.
Philippe Lefort made similar remarks during a visit to Baku, where he met President Ilham Aliyev, Defence Minister Safar Abiyev and other officials on 5 September.
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