Klaar is convinced: Railway communication between Azerbaijan and  Nakhijevn through RA territory should be carried out under Armenian  jurisdiction

ArmInfo. The European Union is encouraged by the latest meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia  and Azerbaijan in Washington. EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar stated in an interview with the Public Television of Armenia, to the request to assess Azerbaijan's violation of its obligations and its non-fulfillment the decisions of the ECHR and the International Court of Justice.

At the same time, he noted that on the eve of this meeting, the EU  was in close contact with their American counterparts to make sure  that the positions of Washington and Brussels are consonant.

"In this regard, we share a common desire to advance the peace  process and achieve progress in all key areas, including the issue of  demarcation of borders, as well as the withdrawal of forces. We  expect that new initiatives will appear at the European level in the  very near future," the Special Representative said.

To clarify why Baku ignores the resolutions, not taking them  seriously, Klaar recalled that this is a confrontation that has  lasted more than 30 years, and which has many sides, and said taht  the ability to move forward in all directions is the key one.

"It is important for us that Armenia and Azerbaijan are at the  negotiating table so that we achieve a result that guarantees a  secure future for the South Caucasus. From this point of view, the EU  has stated very clearly that the rights and security of the Armenians  living in Nagorno-Karabakh must be ensured. And this means that the  people living there should be able to live in safety, with their  language, their culture, their religion, be protected, be able to  live with dignity. There is a decision of the International Court of  Justice, and it is important that it be implemented. The situation  that we had before December, when people could move freely, should be  restored," Klaar stressed.

When asked if there are any proposals for a mechanism that will  ensure the rights and security of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, the  EU Special Representative replied that these issues are the reason  for the meeting in Washington. According to him, that is why the EU  is striving to continue high-level meetings in the foreseeable  future, since it is important for Brussels that all the above issues  are resolved and that people in Nagorno-Karabakh can live in safety.

Referring to the international mechanism for ensuring the rights of  the Armenians of Artsakh, the European official noted that these are  important ideas about what the EU can achieve in the negotiation  process, both in terms of negotiations between Yerevan and Baku, and  between Baku and Stepanakert.  "And these different paths should  start to lead to results. The process has stalled somewhat in the  last few months. And that's not good," Klaar added, stressing the  need to intensify the negotiation process.

At the same time, he added that all their efforts are aimed at  achieving positive results.  To the comment of the host, why is the  Lachin corridor still closed, moreover, a checkpoint has already been  established there, Klaar noted that this is precisely why there is a  need to intensify the process and achieve a comprehensive settlement.

"There is an urgent need for a comprehensive settlement. And this is  what we are striving for. So I don't want to make assumptions about  bad results. Rather, I want to focus on what we can achieve, which is  a comprehensive settlement that will include both a peaceful  agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as the demarcation  of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the unblocking of  communications, as well as guarantees of the rights and security of  the Armenians of Karabakh," the EU Special Representative noted.

In response to a question about Azerbaijan's territorial claims  against Armenia and claims regarding the so- called enclaves, Klaar  assured that there are also different views about their status  regarding specific villages in Armenia. "Such issues must inevitably  be resolved in the demarcation process. But as for the issue of  transit communication, the transit route between Azerbaijan and  Nakhichevan, if such a railway is located on the territory of  Armenia, then it must operate in accordance with the laws and  regulations of Armenia. I am sure that it is easy enough or should be  easy to move forward on the issue of harmonizing transit links  between Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan passing through Armenia," the  official assured.  At the same time, he believes that there is an  opportunity to achieve a beneficial result for all interested  parties. "I hope that we will be able to achieve real progress in  this area if there is good will from all sides.  It is in the  interests of not only Azerbaijan, but also Armenia, if there is a  railway from Azerbaijan through Armenia to Nakhichevan, and from  Nakhichevan to Gyumri and, in the end, to Kars. And if it is under  the control of Armenia," the EU Special Representative stressed.

To the remark that Baku did not comply with the statement of November  9, 2020, the EU Special Representative stressed that the agreements  are meant to be implemented. "This is what we expect. Any agreement  must be fulfilled," he added, without answering the question of what  mechanisms exist to force the parties to comply with the signed  agreement.