“The EU has a profound interest in the security, stability and prosperity of the South Caucasus region as an integral part of the EU Eastern Partnership”. This was stated by the Head of the Cabinet of the European Council president, Charles Michel, in a letter to the three co-rapporteurs of ‘the Joint Liaison Group on confidence building measures in support of lasting peace in the South Caucasus’.
The co-rapporteurs – Ahmad Alili, Benyamin Poghosyan and Dennis Sammut - had earlier this month written to President Michel proposing a number of concrete measures for the consideration of the Eastern Partnership summit which took place in Brussels on 15 December.
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In his letter on 22 December, President Michel’s Head of Cabinet, Federic Bernard, thanked the Joint Liaison Group for their ideas, which he said, “have been feeding into the reflection about possible measures that could support the EU’s effort and commitment to work closely with Azerbaijan and Armenia in overcoming conflict, creating co-operation and an atmosphere of trust with a view to sustainable peace in the region.” Bernard added that “the EU stands ready to effectively contribute in the shaping of a durable and comprehensive settlement of the conflict, including where possible through support for stabilisation and confidence building measures”.
‘The Joint Liaison Group in support of lasting peace in the South Caucasus’ brings together a diverse group of experts practitioners and activists from Armenia and Azerbaijan, with the facilitation of LINKS Europe foundation and with the support of the European Union. The group is currently consulting widely in Armenia and Azerbaijan, and in the wider region, to identify and articulate concrete measures that can be implemented to consolidate peace in the South Caucasus, and will submit its final report by the end of March 2022.
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