July 24, 2006 - 18:45 AMT
Sides Should Exert Efforts for Karabakh Conflict Soonest Settlement
The European Union regrets over the failure to reach agreement on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict within the framework of the G8 summit, EU Envoy for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby stated at a news conference in Yerevan. In his words, the talks should go on and the sides should exert every effort for the soonest settlement. "Next year the borders of the European Union will closely approach the region. That is why the EU attaches such importance to the Karabakh conflict resolution," Semneby remarked.

He also underscored that the EU doesn't immediately take part in the talks but is ready to assist in establishing trust between the states, what is possible within the European Neighborhood Policy. At that the Finnish diplomat said there is no reason for changing the format of the talks. "We are not going to substitute the OSCE MG. That is why I am not speaking of any new proposals or ways of settlement," the EU Special Representative said.