May 17, 2006 - 15:48 AMT
Risk of Escalation of Frozen Conflicts Always Exists, EU Envoy Considers
The European Union supposes that the frozen conflicts in the South Caucasus cannot be settled without laborious work for creating the atmosphere of trust between the communities, majorities and minorities in the region, EU Envoy for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby stated. In his words, the atmosphere of trust should be created between the states of the region and with the big neighbors as well. "This is impossible without precise political and economic outlook. All including the European Union and Russia as well as the states of the region and all the interested parties should work for it," Mr. Semneby remarked adding that the escalation cannot be ruled out until the conflicts are settled.
When commenting on the possibility of deploying EU and NATO peacekeepers in the region, the EU Envoy said, "I am not empowered to speak of NATO. As for the European Union, it's possible. However it will be one of many possibilities. Everything depends on the will of the parties," reported Nezavisimaya Gazeta.