YEREVAN. March 2 (Interfax) - The status quo in the relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan cannot continue, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.
The problem has to be solved with regard for the principles of territorial integrity and the rights of the people to self-determination, he said.
"It is very important that Armenia and Azerbaijan reach a long-term solution, gradually achieve a peaceful solution to the situation," Scholz said at a joint press conference with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Berlin on Thursday
Germany is concerned about the unstable situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the aggravating humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, he said. "The status quo cannot continue. A long-term solution has to be found. There is a need to reach a peaceful solution with regard for the territorial integrity of Armenia and Azerbaijan and in terms of the right of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to self-determination. And all these principles have equal force," Scholz said.
Pashinyan, for his part, said that "instead of negotiating well, Azerbaijan continues is destructive policies, threatening Armenia's democracy and hurting the efforts of the government of Armenia to establish peace and stability in the region."
It is necessary to send an international fact-finding mission to Nagorno-Karabakh and the Lachin Corridor, he said.
"We are calling on our international partners to take effective steps to ensure the fulfilment by Azerbaijan of the decision of the UN International Court that ordered Azerbaijan to open the Lachin Corridor," Pashinyan said.
The prime minister also said Armenia intends to sign with the European Union an agreement that governs the installation of an EU civil mission for two years.
"The installation of a mission in Armenia is now governed by mutual official letters. But we have an agreement that this presence of the mission has to be outlined in an agreement. I think we will sign an agreement governing the presence and work of the mission in Armenia," Pashinyan said.
In February, the European Union announced the launch of a civil mission Armenia (EUMA) for two years in accordance with the general security and defense policies.
According to the statement by the Council of the European Union, the purpose of the mission is to assist stability in the border areas of Armenia, to strengthen trust and security of people in the conflict-hit areas, and to ensure conditions for normalizing the relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan with EU support.
The mission, which has a two-year mandate, consists of some 100 people, including some 50 unarmed monitors. It was created in accordance with the Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) and the decision of the Council of the European Union of January 23, 2023 and at the request of the Armenian foreign minister of December 27, 2022.
It is headquartered in Yeghegnadzor, Vayots Dzor province of Armenia. The functions of civil operations commander are exercised by high-ranking European External Action Service, (EEAS) official Stefano Tomat. The head of the mission is Markus Ritter.
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