EU-Azerbaijan: Promoting peace

By Anna van Densky in Baku 

The visit of the co-chairs of Minsk Group to Erevan and Baku on 25-26 October was not expected to be a breakthrough in the Nargorno-Karabach conflict-resolution process, however the slow pace of the OSCE peacemaking institute opens an opportunity for the EU to encourage the rapprochement of two nations, sharing its experience of integration between the rivals to produce a lasting peace.

Next to the formal ongoing negotiating process that has been advancing for more than two decades, much-needed confidence between Armenia and Azerbaijan is still lacking, which has made the progress minimal. Meanwhile, the EU’s ambition to establish itself as a global player has an chance to be fulfilled though contributing to frozen conflict-resolutions in its neighbourhood complementing the OSCE efforts.

The fatigue of Azerbaijan’s society vis-a-vis the Nagorno-Karabach issue is almost palpable in Baku on the eve of the  OSCE Minsk group co-chairs’ visit to the capital. In spite of four UN resolutions, the first of the clashes that burst out between two former Soviet Republics upon the collapse of the USSR remains unsettled.  However, within Azerbaijan political leadership, there is an understanding that diplomatic routes to finding a solution are not exhausted, and the efforts of the Minsk group are still channelling the process in the right direction, which is decreasing tensions.

Its slow pace is bringing more actors to an idea that the efforts of a formal institute such as the Minsk Group should be reinforced by the more active involvement of civil societies in confidence-building measures.  In more than two decades of protracted conflict, trust is still dramatically lacking as an element that could hold the key to a lasting solution between two nations, which would contribute significantly to the well-being of the entire region, both politically and economically.

In resurrecting from the ashes of two world wars, Europe has unrivalled experience of reconciliation and integration between former rivals – this is the experience it can share with the South Caucasus opponents. The EU’s interest in settling the conflict goes beyond an interest in Caspian sea energy resources that are abundant in oil and gas – the security and stability of the neighbourhood is at stake.  There are also other significant elements for the EU, making its engagement in the conflict resolution so vital.

If, previously, Turkey was a model of a secular state with an Islamic tradition, now the honour certainly goes to Azerbaijan – mulitcultural and multiethnic, it has created a respectful environment for different communities, including Jews in restoring their synagogues, which suffered a decline in Soviet times, and are nowadays peacefully co-existing with mosques.

The EU’s Neighbourhood Policy and later Eastern Partnership have declared conflict resolutions as their priority, however so far no considerable steps have been made to implement such intentions.  Almost traditionally, the EU is pointing towards the OSCE Minsk group as  being the responsible institute, but this attitude is now definitely outdated. The complexity of the protracted Nagorno-Karabach conflict requires comprehensive approach to deal with emotions, prejudices and traumas. The formal political process that has evolved at a speed allowed by retrospective societies, is still close to the tragedies of the past. Although one can hardly expect a Robert Schuman-type personality to appear on the Caucasus political landscape, one can be sure that his ideas will find many followers if introduced with conviction and tenacity by the EU diplomats.

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