EU REPRESENTATIVE SAYS THE UNION WANTS DEEPER DIRECT CONTACTS WITH KARABAKH

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS:A special representative of the European Union to the South Caucasus said the Kosovo precedent cannot affect resolution of other conflicts, particularly, post-Soviet conflict as the Kosovo conflict is unique, but he did not elaborate, saying only one major difference is that the international community and the UN Security Council have been steering its resolution without stopping Serbia’s jurisdiction over the region. The representative, Peter Semneby, spoke to Armenian reporters after meeting Nagorno-Karabakh leader Arkady Ghukasian in Yerevan. Semneby said the European Union wants to have deeper direct contacts with Nagorno- Karabakh because ‘European Union’s greater involvement in the international efforts to end the dispute will be productive,’ he said, adding that the EU wants to have such contacts with all parties to the conflict. He said the EU is concerned that the December 10 constitutional referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh may become an obstacle to the peaceful efforts as it is able to predetermine, to some extent, the process of talks. Semneby said he hoped that indications of visible progress in the talks would continue into the next year. He said he plans to pay a visit to Nagorno-Karabakh soon to have a better understanding of realities.