No Politically quick solutions in Georgia and Nagorno-Karabakh

PanARMENIAN.Net - There is no politically quick solutions in Georgia and Nagorno-Karabakh, Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said in New York, who on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, met with the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkmenistan Elmar Maharram oglu Mammadyarov, Grigol Vashadze  and Rashid Maradov.



"We need a new pact for the Caucasus", said Michael Spindelegger, who met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Further bilateral meetings are scheduled with the Foreign Ministers of Armenia Edward Nabaldian, and Kazakhstan Kanat Saudabayev.

The topics to be discussed include on the one hand the continuation and enhancement of the EU engagement in this region so important for Europe, and, on the other, an increase in coordinated economic action.



"The conflicts in the Caucasus are a particular challenge especially for the EU", reminded the Foreign Minister of the EU mission in the Georgia conflict in 2008. "Today, the EU is the only international organization present in Georgia with a monitoring mission, making a significant contribution to stability and security in the entire region. We must, however, remain realistic - there are no political "quick fixes", neither in Georgia nor in Nagorno-Karabakh. For this reason in particular, there is need for greater European involvement. Europe must and will not turn its back on its immediate neighbours", said Spindelegger. After all, the latest rapprochement steps between Turkey and Armenia showed that movement is also possible even in seemingly frozen conflicts.



At the same time, the region is regarded as one of the most promising markets in Europe's front yard. It houses rapidly growing markets and raw material reserves that are indispensable for Europe. "The Caucasus and Black Sea region is one of the most important and dynamic regions in the European neighbourhood. The EU and Austria must not let the opportunity to stabilize this region and bring it closer to EU pass by", Spindelegger continued. He added that it is in the interest of the European Union to pay more attention to this future market.



Austria has thus decided to open an embassy in Baku in the coming year. "My objective is to intensify our contacts on all levels - economic, political, cultural, and human. I am convinced that the relations to the Black Sea region and to the Caucasus bear a great potential which we can exploit together. There are diverse fields for enhanced cooperation: economy, culture, science, security, and energy supply. This is where we intend to dynamically develop our cooperation step by step", Spindelegger concluded.