ArmInfo.The UK is seriously concerned with the escalation in the Karabakh conflict zone in April 2016, says Judith Margaret Farnworth, UK Ambassador to Armenia.
The UK is convinced that only a peaceful dialogue can lead to long-term peace and that the parties should try to launch that dialogue under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassador Farnworth says, pointing out the need to resume the talks in the constructive manner and to build confidence between the parties.
According to Ambassador Farnworth, the UK is aware that Armenia criticizes London's stand on the Karabakh conflict, blaming it for a biased position due to the energy cooperation with Baku. However, this opinion is wrong, she says, adding that the UK's stand fully coincides with the position of its European partners and the entire international community. The UK fully supports the principles worked out by the OSCE MG Co-Chairs, she says.
As regards the reasons of the cutback in financial aid to the projects supporting Nagorno- Karabakh, Ambassador Farnworth points out that the UK keeps participating in such initiatives in the region and has improved its cooperation with other actors and partners. This year, the financial support is continued, but the funding sources have changed. She notes that the UK is open for initiatives and that the financial aid decline is not a political decision.