EU  discusses  with Armenia and Azerbaijan the best way to support  regional connectivity – Grono

ArmInfo. The European Union is discussing with the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan how it can  best support the development of regional transport and connectivity  routes in the South Caucasus, as stated by Magdalena Grono, the EU  Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in  Georgia, at a briefing for journalists in Yerevan. She was speaking  about the security situation in the South Caucasus and the peace  process between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"The progress in building sustainable peace in the region is  incredibly impressive. As the European Union, we seek to be a strong  partner for the Republic of Armenia, but also for Azerbaijan, so that  this peace becomes a lasting reality that benefits all people," Grono  emphasized, Armenpress reports.

Grono noted that the EU supports the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process  through political engagement as well as practical initiatives. She  said the bloc is also looking at ways to support areas where  discussions are still ongoing and which could benefit communities on  both sides, including humanitarian demining.  According to Grono,  demining has a direct impact on communities affected by conflict and  could also facilitate broader regional connectivity and the  development of new transport links.

Referring to the EU-funded remote-controlled demining machine  delivered to Armenia on July 8, she said the equipment forms part of  the EU's broader support for peacebuilding efforts. Grono also  reaffirmed that regional connectivity and the wider unblocking of  transport links in the South Caucasus remain high on the EU's agenda.

"We are discussing with the Armenian authorities, but also with our  Azerbaijani partners, how we can best support the development of  these routes so that all countries are involved and all communities  along them benefit. We also want to make a meaningful contribution to  what is a priority for the European Union - the Middle Corridor,  which connects Asia with Europe through the South Caucasus," she  said.