Czech Republic hopes updated Madrid document to serve as basis for Nagorno-Karabakh settlement

A stable and open Southern Caucasus region with all countries working together is something the EU is strongly interested in, Jan Kohout, Deputy Prime-Minister and Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic said on the eve of his visit to Azerbaijan on May 13-14.

"I hope that the updated Madrid document presented by the Co-chairs of the Minsk Group during the meeting in Sochi at the end of January will serve as a basis for the final compromise settlement", Kohout said.

According to his words, the Czech Republic is convinced that the only way to the peaceful solution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is through direct negotiations on the basis of all principles established within the Minsk Group, including respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of the internationally recognized borders.

"Therefore, we welcome the last year's intensification of the meetings between Azerbaijani president and his Armenian counterpart. The EU will support and encourage both countries to continue along this path as the progress in this area would have a positive impact on the region's stability, security and prosperity," he said.

The EU itself serves as a proof that with the help of establishing a network of links and contacts between countries and people to people contacts old disputes and historical injuries can be overcome, he said.

"Therefore, the EU offered last year Eastern Partnership to both Azerbaijan and Armenia as another platform for mutually beneficial cooperation aiming, inter alia, to help you to find positive vision towards the future," Kohout said.


/Trend/