“The European Union started a process in the three countries of the South Caucasus, which it hopes to complete by signing a companionship agreement,” yesterday told the Radio Liberty service in Azerbaijan Peter Semneby, the EU’s special representative for the South Caucasus. He also added, “This is a new step and will envisage firmer political relations.” He said his talks with officials as well as opposition and civil society figures would also touch on energy and human rights as well as regional issues such as Azerbaijan’s conflict with Armenia over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. "These are issues that are high on our agenda and the list of issues that we bring up basically on every opportunity," he said. "I hope that we will see some movement forward in order for this not to grow into a more problematic issue in our relationship than it needs to be." Semneby also described as "questionable" aspects of the amendments passed earlier this month. The changes make it an offence to photograph, videotape, or make an audio recording of anyone without their permission. Formally this process fits in the framework of the EU Eastern Partnership Program and will indeed have a positive impact on the three countries of the region, including Armenia. On the other hand, it is clear that no such agreement can ever be signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan unless there is essential progress in the resolution of the NKR conflict. Thus, the hopes of the EU are most probably connected with the current developments in the NKR conflict. Peter Semneby is so informed of the developments of the NKR that he can allow himself to express such “optimism.”
