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The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has an enormous impact on both countries economically, socially, as well as on the quality of democracy and the respect for individual and collective freedoms, Diogo Pinto, secretary-general of the European Movement International in Brussels, writes in his article on the Euractiv.com website.

 "The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is normally referred to as a "frozen" conflict, and that seems to lead to complacency citizens and the European institutions alike. However, as the war in Georgia clearly demonstrated, frozen does not mean safe. Apart from the violations of the cease-fire that very often end with deaths on both sides of the line of contact, this conflict has a huge impact in the economic, political and social situations in the two countries, and is hampering what could be a harmonious development and a successful regional integration process, as well as a progressive “Europeanisation” of the entire region, which has been defined as vital for the European interests,” writes the author.

According to the author, “we are well aware of the complexity of the situation and know that good will alone isn’t enough. We also understand our limitations as simple civil society actors, and thus understand that the resolution of the conflict isn’t in our hands only.”

In the opinion of the author, the peaceful resolution of the conflict would not only be positive for the countries involved; it would bring peace and stability to the South Caucasus region and ease the relations between Armenia and Turkey, and between Azerbaijan and Iran.

The end of the conflict, with a peaceful, EU-mediated solution, accepted by all interested parties, would also assert the EU’s core values of democracy and human rights as their main reference, and the EU itself as its preferential strategic partner, according to Diogo Pinto.

Earlier, due to a technical fault Panorama.am presented a comment to the article of Diogo Pinto, secretary-general of the European Movement International, on the Euractiv.com website as the author’s comment. We apologize for the fault and present the comment:

Armenians had the right to defend themselves in the war declared by Azerbaijan because the Armenians were 85% of the people in Nagorno-Karabakh.

“In my opinion, Azerbaijan declared war because the Armenians in the enclave decided that they wanted self-rule. At the time the Soviet Union was created, the Armenians were the only people in the enclave and at the time the Soviet Union was collapsed, the Armenians were 85% of the people in the enclave; that is, the ultimate majority. Therefore, the Armenians had the right to defend themselves. I hope the solution be found quickly before Azerbaijan be emboldened again to restart the war based on the build-up of the arsenal of weapons bought by the easy money from sale of oil.”