Andrea Wiktorin: The EU is ready to participate in the negotiations  between Armenia and Azerbaijan as a mediator, in case of mutual  desire of the parties

ArmInfo. The European Union is ready to participate in the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan as a mediator, with the mutual desire of the parties. Head  of the EU Delegation to Armenia Andrea Wiktorin stated this to the  question of ArmInfo correspondent in an interview with journalists in  the border village of Khachik of the Vayots Dzor region of Armenia at  an event dedicated to the International Day of Girls.

"If the parties express a mutual desire, the European Union is ready  to get involved in this process, but naturally within the framework  of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship. The mandate for the  settlement belongs to the OSCE Minsk Group and the co-chairing  countries," Wiktorin said.  Clarifying whether the European Union is  concerned about the processes in the Syunik region of Armenia, in  particular on the Goris-Kapan road section, Wiktorin stressed that  this cannot but cause concern, since people's lives are endangered.

"President of the European Council Charles Michel noted that the EU  is ready to assist the parties on the issue of delimitation and  demarcation, in case of appeal," said Wiktorin, recalling that she  personally visited the Syunik region of the Republic of Armenia this  summer, in particular the Sev Lich section and then the Yeraskh  section (Ararat region) in order to get acquainted with the situation  on the spot.

Referring to the prospects for the implementation of financial  projects in border communities, she drew attention to the fact that  the EU is implementing many programs in the regions of Armenia,  including border ones. "We have a number of projects, especially for  persons displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh," the diplomat said, reminding in this  vein that a distinction should be made between EU humanitarian  projects and assistance programs.   She recalled that the European Union provided humanitarian assistance  to the victims of the conflict immediately after the war. "We have  provided assistance to the families of persons displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh in  solving their everyday needs. A decision has been made to provide  assistance to the southern region of Armenia - the EU with the  Armenian government is developing a program to assist the Syunik  region and we hope that it will be effective. Work with the most  vulnerable families is already underway. This concerns those who are  in Goris, "the Ambassador specified.  At the same time, the European  Ambassador recalled the current EU projects in Lori, Shirak and  Tavush regions of Armenia aimed at stimulation of such sectors as  agriculture, tourism, innovation.