The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission Catherine Ashton issued a statement on the presidential elections in Artsakh.

She said the European Union “does not recognize the constitutional and legal framework in which the elections will be held.”

“These elections should not prejudice the determination of the future status of Nagorno Karabakh in the negotiated general framework of the peaceful settlement of the conflict. I recall the EU's firm support to the OSCE Minsk Group, and in particular to the sustained efforts of its Co-chairs, aimed at a peaceful resolution of the conflict. I call on the parties to step up their efforts to find a negotiated solution to the conflict on the basis of the Madrid principles, which would allow progress beyond the status quo. I reiterate the EU's readiness to provide further support to efforts in this direction,” she said.