EU envoy cites lack of trust behind failure to resolve Karabakh issue

PanARMENIAN.Net - The EU special envoy for the South Caucasus has blamed lack of trust for a failure to resolve the Karabakh conflict.

Philippe Lefort made the remarks at a press conference on Thursday, Oct 27, wrapping up his visit to Baku.

"The main reason for the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the lack of mutual trust and, maybe, mutual fear," Lefort said.

He said that the EU supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group, the international body mediating a solution to the Karabakh conflict.

"The co-chairs stressed to the sides the need to improve significantly the atmosphere of negotiations, increase trust and strengthen implementation of the ceasefire to allow further progress toward reaching a peaceful settlement," they said in a statement.

Philippe Lefort told the press conference that the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Catherine Ashton, took great interest in the South Caucasus, as it was a region of importance to the EU, News.az reported.