Taking Stock of 30 Years of EU Policy on the Conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh

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February 2018 marks thirty years since the people of Nagorno-Karabakh appealed to the Soviet authorities to exercise their right to unification with Armenia. This movement was triggered by the political uncertainty of the crumbling Soviet Union, which Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh were all part of. In 1988 and in the following years, peaceful Armenian initiatives were met with violent repression by Azerbaijani authorities. By 1992, the dispute had escalated into an all-out war.

Thirty years later, what has been done to de-escalate and resolve this conflict?

Building on the European Parliament’s institutional memory of the conflict and on the resolutions it adopted between 1988 and 1994, two panels of parliamentarians, diplomats and international experts will critically assess the EU’s current policies on the conflict and discuss some suggestions on how to rebuild confidence and promote peace-building actions among the peoples of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh.

Hosted by Frank Engel MEP, the event is intended to encourage the European institutions to become more pro-active in their contribution to conflict resolution and human rights in the region.

Co-organized by AGBU Europe and the European Friends of Armenia (EuFoA).

PROGRAMME

13.00 - Welcome and introductory remarks, Frank ENGEL, MEP

13.05 TESTIMONIES FROM THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: 1988 – 1991
In retrospect: how did the European Parliament understand the emerging crisis? What were its recommendations?

• Tsvetana PASKALEVA, Journalist
• Jaromir STETINA, MEP (EPP)
• Eleni THEOCHAROUS, MEP (ECR) 

14.00 BLUEPRINT FOR ENGAGEMENT: 10 SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EU CONTRIBUTION TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH PEACE
Looking forward: what initiatives could the EU take to improve the lives of people in Nagorno-Karabakh, reduce tensions, build trust and pave the way to peace?

• Lars ADAKTUSSON, MEP (EPP)
• Paul MEERTS, Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’
• Licinia SIMAO, Centre for Social Studies of the University of Coimbra (CES)

14.55 CONCLUSIONS