EU Commissioner: "Building confidence essential for lasting peace in Karabakh"

The escalation of the conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region with a heavy loss of lives on both sides has shaken the entire Caucasus – Armenia, Azerbaijan and also Georgia, EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Policy Oliver Varhelyi said at an online conference entitled "The South Caucasus and the West. The WHYs and HOWs of stronger EU-US Engagement," Report informs.

“The US has been quick to provide over 7 million euros in humanitarian assistance. Moreover, we are preparing an additional 10 million euros to mitigate the impact of this conflict. The Nagorno Karabakh ceasefire is however still fragile,” he said.

“Rebuilding homes and lives will take time, but confidence building will take even longer and it is essential to a lasting peace to get there. Therefore, the EU fully supports the work of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, including the US to rebuilt confidence and find a way towards a lasting solution and sustainable peace in the region,” Varhelyi noted.

“In last year’s Joint Communication on the future of the Eastern Partnership we were clear that EU will step up its efforts to address the unresolved conflicts across the region. Security and stability are the foundations of prosperity. We cooperate already to strengthen the region’s resilience, on economic diversification and civil society support in Azerbaijan,” Varhelyi added.