The protracted conflicts are the most urgent problems as they hinder all kinds of development in the entire region, the newly appointed OSCE PA Special Representative for the South Caucasus Joao Soares told Trend in an interview.

“My mandate is rather broad, including all three dimensions of the OSCE’s comprehensive security concept. I will, however, also dedicate part of my work to the important democratic reforms that all three countries are undertaking, and I look forward to following these developments,” he said.

The OSCE Minsk Group is the format for negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict. The OSCE, with its comprehensive security concept and wide membership is the best possible forum to assist Armenia and Azerbaijan in solving this conflict, Soares believes.

“However, the Minsk Group does not exist to impose any solution on any party. The sides must agree. The solution will have to be a compromise, and therefore both sides will need to give in on some of their demands,” he underlined.

Soares believes that this is a difficult process, and it is painful for the sides in the conflict. “But a peaceful solution is the only viable way forward,” he added.

Visiting the region in person is the only way to have a direct dialogue on Nagorno-Karabakh with all segments of society in both Armenia and Azerbaijan, he believes.

“As Special Representative on the South Caucasus, I will be visiting the region as soon as possible,” Soares added, according to Trend.