VP/HR — Latent conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan — Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) investigative mechanism

3.1.2018

Question for written answer E-000007-18
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 130
Louis Michel (ALDE)

The conflicts within the OSCE area, especially the one between Armenia and Azerbaijan, are a matter of great concern. The situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region is particularly alarming, as far from being a frozen conflict, it remains a latent conflict. The ‘Four Day War’ that began in early April 2016 has raised awareness of the unsustainability of the status quo as well as the need to move forward, both by stabilising the situation on the ground through the adoption of confidence-building measures and by holding substantive discussions for a peaceful and durable resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The OSCE and EU have gradually been able to cooperate successfully in crisis and conflict management.

How does the EU support the OSCE in its request that concerned parties ensure the full implementation of the investigative mechanism with regard to violations of the ceasefire taking place on the line of contact between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan?

The European Neighbourhood Policy allows the Union to directly intervene in a domain that was until recently restricted to the OSCE, particularly in ‘frozen’ conflicts in Transnistria and the Caucasus (Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia).

How does the European Union intend to assist in enforcing the ceasefire?