The EP strongly supports the OSCE and renewed efforts for a ceasefire consolidation in Nagorno Karabakh, concludes a new short paper published by European Friends of Armenia (EuFoA).

The short paper is entitled “Europe’s options in Nagorno Karabakh and combines the results of a poll among 100 MEPs carried out by the British company ComRes in the European Parliament in August 2010 with wider political and policy developments to provide an insight into the views of legislators.

“We are very happy to see that MEPs support the OSCE Minsk Group negotiations while calling for renewed efforts of a cease fire consolidation”, comments EuFoA Secretary General, Michael Kambeck. “This is in line with the new diplomatic marathon announced by the OSCE preparing for the summit in December and the EU should now offer to play a visible and supportive role when the conflicting parties and the Minsk Group seek to remove snipers and install observers at the contact line.”

MEPs were asked about their opinion on how to avoid military escalation in the Nagorno Karabakh region. The most popular view, regardless of political affiliation, was upgrading the EU’s commitment to a peaceful settlement of the conflict, for example by sending a non-military observer mission.

EuFoA’s short paper analyses the poll’s results in their wider political context and comments on possible ways of a European involvement in the region and in settling the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. It also provides policy recommendations for the EU’s short-term action. The poll was carried out between 19 July and 4 August 2010. The data was weighted and is representative for all MEPs across political parties and regional spread.