/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The mandate of the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus is expanded, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby stated at a news conference in Baku yesterday. “My mandate is specifically expanded regarding authorities to solve “frozen conflicts.” I will follow all aspects of conflict situations attentively. Then I will make recommendations for the EU leadership,” he said. EU support to solve conflicts in the South Caucasus may lie in sending observation missions, peacekeeping presence or rehabilitation of territories, he added.
Semneby also reported that March 1, 2006 the Office of the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus is moved from Finland to Brussels owing to the increased EU interest towards the region as a whole. In Semneby’s words, to there are several reasons for the increased EU interest. Firstly, 2 new states in Europe will soon become EU full members. They both have access to the Black Sea, which is important in Semneby’s words, as “the concept of the “Black Sea” is very much extended for Brussels.” One should not forget about Turkey, which is immediately adjacent to the states of the region and has started talks on EU accession, he added.
Secondly, Semneby remarked, the EU continues implementation of the EU Neighborhood Policy, within the framework of which Action Plans with all three states will be drawn up. “The Action Plan of none of the states is ready yet,” he said. Semneby also touched upon repetitive election in Azerbaijan’s Parliament. He noted that even if the proposal on sending EU observers is not accepted, nevertheless Brussels will give its assessment of the vote. As of settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the EU Special Representative remarked, he believes there are chances to settle the issue in 2006, reports Trend.
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