Category: 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan on December 5  received the delegation led by Member of the European Parliament Geoffroy Didier.

 

Welcoming the members of the delegation, Paruyr Hovhannisyan highlighted the significant support from the European Parliament on issues of primary importance for Armenia during the challenging period for the country and the region, the foreign ministry said.

 

"The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that the scope of cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and the European Union is impressive, including active political dialogue, joint efforts to overcome current challenges, the implementation of the provisions of the Comprehensive and Extended Partnership Agreement and the prospects for expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

 

The Deputy Minister also expressed appreciation for the EU's initiatives aimed at enhancing Armenia's resilience," the statement reads.

 

According to the source, members of the delegation expressed their concern about the large-scale military attack by Azerbaijan against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh in September, highlighting the resulting humanitarian situation.

 

Deputy Geoffroy Didier expressed full support for Armenia in overcoming the current challenges.

 

It is noted that Paruyr Hovhannisyan comprehensively presented steps aimed at normalizing Armenia-Azerbaijan relations and addressing other regional issues.

Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign affairs chief, addresses a human rights forum in Brussels on Dec. 5

Baku Urged to Guarantee Rights of Artsakh Armenians

The European Union on Tuesday faulted Azerbaijan for attempting to resolve the Artsakh conflict through the use of force and urged Baku to guarantee the rights of the Armenians of Artsakh to return to their homes.

Addressing the EU-NGO Forum in Brussels, Josep Borrell, the EU foreign affairs chief lamented the current world order of what he called “the return of brutal power politics.”

“More and more conflicts are being solved by the use of force,” Borrell emphasized. “Something that was supposed to be forbidden. Not the use of force to solve conflicts, but what I see is that there are more and more conflicts [are] being solved by force.”

“Look for example at what has happened in Azerbaijan and Armenia. A long-frozen conflict that suddenly has been – I would not say solved – but decisively determined by a military intervention that, in one week, made 150,000 people move. In one week. Like this. 150,000 people had to abandon their houses and run. And the international community regretted [it], expressed concern, sent humanitarian support, but it happened [with] the use of force,” Borrell added.

Borrell reminded that the European Union had condemned Azerbaijan’s military attack against Artsakh in September and had criticized the human casualties and the mass migration of Artsakh Armenians that took place due to the violence.

Later, while responding to written questions submitted by forum participants, Borrell called on Azerbaijan to protect and guarantee the rights of Artsakh Armenians, including allowing them to return to their homes.

Borrell also said that Brussels wants a permanent international presence in the region.

“The property and cultural heritage of Karabakh Armenians must be protected,” Borrell also said.

Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry reacted with a scathing statement that not only condemned Borrell, but accused the EU of having an anti-Azerbaijan bias.

“EU official’s erroneous opinions which once again gravely distort the reality are unacceptable,” Aykhan Hajizada, Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry spokesperson said.

“The indifference by Josep Borrell, Vice-President of the EU Commission toward the illegal existence of the Armenian armed forces in the territory of Azerbaijan, which was the primary source of threats to Azerbaijan and led to counter-terrorism measures, is an example of a clear bias against our country,” added Hajizada.

The foreign ministry spokesperson scolded Borrell for saying that 150,000 Armenians had fled Artsakh as a result of Azerbaijan’s attack, saying that the EU leader’s “exaggeration” could “lead to serious misunderstandings.”

“Such false statements by Josep Borrell undermine EU’s mediation efforts and EU Council President Charles Michel’s mission in this direction,” added Hajizada.

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov in Moscow on Dec. 5

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Azerbaijani counterpart, Jeyhun Bayramov, have confirmed the need to increase efforts to normalize relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia when they met in Moscow on Tuesday.

“In the context of the debate on regional issues, the need was confirmed to increase efforts to normalize relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia on the basis of tripartite agreements which were adopted in 2020-2022 at a high level,” a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

“Further joint steps regarding the implementation of the provisions of the declaration on allied cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan of February 22, 2022 were discussed,” the Russian foreign ministry statement added.

The Lavrov-Bayramov meeting took place on the margins of a summit of Caspian Littoral States foreign ministers being held in Moscow.

Bayramov later said that Baku, as the main initiator of the peace process with Yerevan, is interested in the establishment of peace and stability in the region. He asserted that “the conditions have been created” for an agreement on a peace treaty.

Bayramov also said that Baku is in favor of the activation of negotiations on border demarcation between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which is considered one of the directions of settlement.

Ahead of his meeting with Bayramov, Lavrov hailed the so-called “3+3” regional scheme advance by Ankara and Baku and backed by Moscow. The plan envisions open borders between Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Georgia and Iran as a regional platform.

“This initiative by [Azerbaijani President] Ilham Aliyev, the so-called ‘3+3’ regional platform of the three South Caucasus countries and their three neighbors, is starting to get flesh and bones. It is a prospective format,” Lavrov told Bayramov ahead of their meeting.

Georgia has said it will not take part in the scheme. The foreign ministers of the remaining countries in the so-called platform met in Tehran recently to discuss issues related to the plan.