EU official: “We are not almighty”
The South Caucasus may become a real zone of development bridging Europe and Asia. To this end, the regional countries should solve the existing conflicts, the special representative of the European Union for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, Philippe Lefort, said in Yerevan.
"You should not count on the international community in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We are not almighty and cannot influence on the will of the conflicting sides. Besides, it is well known that outer forces always pursue their own interests," he said.
The EU tries to provide free move of people through the South Caucasus corridor. And it is necessary to rule out new hostilities in the conflict zone. "The war will be catastrophic for both sides and it will create additional inconveniences for the EU as well," said the EU official.
"The war rhetoric and arm race cannot promote peace," Philippe Lefort said without addressing his words to one of the sides. Instead, he said Azerbaijan is unduly trying to ban European officials' access to Nagorno Karabakh.
"To be able to effectively work at the conflict zone, one should first enter there," he stressed.
Philippe Lefort wants to visits Nagorno Karbakh and meet the local people but as he says, he does not see the goodwill of the two peoples.
