Encouraged by the reported “positive” results of last week’s meeting between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan on the Karabakh conflict resolution process, the European Union and Russia voiced optimism and pledged to support efforts to resolve the conflict.

Federica Mogherinim the EU’s High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said the results of the meeting inspired hope for a lasting resolution to the conflict.

“The recent meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders in Vienna was positive. In line with the Paris agreement in January, the high-level contacts and significant reduction in ceasefire violations, it gives us certain hope that the process will move forward, and the two countries will fulfill their commitments and will hold negotiations without preconditions,” Mogherini said at a press conference in Brussels after a session of the EU-Azerbaijan Association Council.

The European Union fully supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs in the resolution process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Ambassador Piotr Świtalski, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, told reporters Wednesday.

“The mediation mission over the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is being carried out by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, and they completely guide this process. As for the European Union, we fully support the efforts of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs,” he added.

Following the March 29 Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting in Vienna, both leaders announced that they deemed the meeting a “success” and directed their foreign ministers to continue talks for the resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

Also on Wednesday, Moscow pledged to provide the necessary support to Baku and Yerevan to implement the results of the recent Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting, said Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, according to TASS.

“Supporting the sides in the Karabakh conflict resolution process is one of the key foreign policy priorities for Russia. This fact attaches specific importance to the ongoing mediation activities, determines great attention to its results,” said Zakharova.

“The negotiation process for the resolution of the Karabakh conflict continues. The sides have shown intent to continue the work aimed at reaching the peaceful settlement,” added Zakharova.

“We welcome the prevailing constructive approach in the negotiations. We will provide necessary support to the sides in order to implement the ideas over which a consensus was reached in the capital of Austria,” explained Zakharova. “However, as it has been repeatedly stated by the presidents of the co-chair countries, the responsibility to put an end to the conflict lies on the sides to the conflict. The most important aspect is to demonstrate political will.”

http://asbarez.com/178823/eu-russia-optimistic-after-pashinyan-aliyev-meeting/