The European Union is concerned about the lack of progress in resolving the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, and would like to see how it could play a more active and helpful role, in full support of the OSCE Minsk Group, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said.

“I have appointed a new EU Special Representative, Philippe Lefort, to take this work forward. A solution to the conflict would unlock huge potential for the entire region and would in particular boost regional cooperation. Conflict resolution and reconciliation are key values on which the EU itself is based, and which we believe can inspire a renewed effort in the South Caucasus region as well. We will of course discuss the further development of our bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the context of the Eastern Partnership,” Baroness Catherine Ashton told Azeri-Press Agency.

“The Minsk Group has the mandate to mediate between the parties to the conflict. Our intention is to see whether we could do more to support its work, and to help build confidence between the two sides, and more generally act in support of the Minsk Group’s work. There is much at stake in this conflict, and much to be gained if it was resolved, for the people of the region, and also for the EU. We are very worried therefore about the rise in tensions and the increase in incidents, and would like to see how we could help reverse the trend,” she said.