EU urges Yerevan, Baku to avoid steps that could thwart normalization process

BRUSSELS. May 30 (Interfax) - The European Union welcomes the intensification of the normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations in the recent month and urges the sides to abstain from steps that could endanger the peace process, a spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) said.

"The EU believes that it is important to keep this historic momentum and avoid steps, including hostile rhetoric that could put the peace process at risk," the EEAS said in a communique published in Brussels on Tuesday.

The EEAS spokesperson noted that talks on a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, hosted by the United States in early May, were followed by a meeting of the two leaders in Brussels on May 14 before the next round of consultations planned in the Moldovan capital of Chisinau for June 1.

"The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan also met in Moscow," the statement said.

"In Brussels, they focused on several key topics, such as border issues, connectivity, humanitarian issues and the rights and security of Armenians living on the territory of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region," it said.

Since then, the sides have publicly reaffirmed their commitment to the Almaty Declaration of 1991 and the territorial integrity of both Armenia (29,800 square kilometers) and Azerbaijan (86,600 square kilometers).

"We welcome Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's courageous statement in this regard on May 22 and Armenia's clear readiness to work on the delimitation of the bilateral border. We also welcome Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's statement on 25 May," the statement said.

As the work on these delicate matters continues, it is important to build confidence and show goodwill for solving any problems in the comprehensive normalization process, it said.

"All issues need to be resolved exclusively by peaceful means, through dialogue," the EEAS said.