ARMENPRESS. The European Parliament will discuss and vote on a resolution on the “Situation in Azerbaijan, violation of human rights and international law and relations with Armenia” in the plenary session, Member of the European Parliament Costas Mavrides (Cyprus) told Armenpress Brussels correspondent Lilit Gasparyan in an interview.
Ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians, military aggression, war crimes. It seems that Azerbaijan has digested everything and today it dares to criticize the EU, the latter’s relations and assistance to Armenia. The EU listens to these criticisms, sometimes-even threats, and states in response that it is ready to support the efforts aimed at the normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations. How do you imagine that support, which will really give a tangible result?
To effectively support the efforts aimed at normalizing Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, the EU needs to take a stronger stance against the ethnic cleansing and military aggression perpetrated by Azerbaijan now against Armenia. The events in Nagorno-Karabakh, where the Aliyev regime has engaged in systematic policies aimed at the displacement and eradication of the indigenous Armenian population, constitutes a crime against humanity and demonstrates the failure of current approaches. Regarding the current situation, the EU’s response should not merely be about mediation but must also include the demand for full respect of Armenia’s sovereignty, while holding Azerbaijan accountable if its aggression is not terminated.
The European Parliament’s resolution condemning the ethnic cleansing of Armenians is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done. The means used by the EU to punish Putin, should not benefit another criminal, Aliyev. The EU should reassess its relationship with Azerbaijan, particularly in light of its ongoing human rights violations. This could involve reconsidering trade agreements or partnerships, especially those that are critical to Azerbaijan, such as energy cooperation. If the EU truly values human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, it must demonstrate that these principles outweigh short-term economic interests.
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Imposing targeted sanctions on Azerbaijani officials responsible for war crimes, freezing assets, restricting travel, and suspending certain economic agreements would send a clear message that Europe does not tolerate such actions. Moreover, substantial EU support for Armenia, including economic assistance and security guarantees, could help balance the power dynamics in the region and facilitate a more genuine dialogue for peace.
Recently, Armenia regularly declares that it is ready to sign the peace treaty, and Azerbaijan simultaneously presents new demands for signing the peace treaty. Does this not prove that Azerbaijan does not want to achieve peace and what does the EU have to do in terms of bringing Azerbaijan to a constructive field?
I have firsthand experience of what it means to be violently uprooted from one’s homeland. I also understand the challenges faced by nations that adopt a stance of appeasement and retreat, as seen in the cases of Cyprus and Greece regarding Turkey. Just as Azerbaijan continues to impose new demands, we in Cyprus and Greece are constantly confronted with the escalating demands and illegal violations from Erdogan’s neo-Ottoman regime. As I mentioned earlier, what is truly needed to bring both Azerbaijan and Turkey to a constructive field are targeted sanctions. This is the goal we should be striving for and working towards. These sanctions would not only punish the regime for its actions but also deter further escalations by making it clear that Europe stands firm on its values towards peace based on International Law and not aggression. But to have peace, we need both sides and it is obvious which side doesn’t aim for peace.
Azerbaijan describes the EU civil mission in Armenia as illegal and a factor that harms the peace process. How will you interpret such statements of the Azerbaijani regime?
As someone who had repeatedly criticized the Azerbaijani government for its aggressive and at times criminal actions over the past few years, I interpret the statements on the legality of the EU’s mission as being a reflection of their broader geopolitical ambitions in the region. More specifically, these statements are an attempt to delegitimize and undermine international efforts that do not align with their interests, including those of the EU, which seeks to promote de-escalation, stability, peace, and the rule of law in the region. Furthermore, such statements may also serve at reinforcing a domestic narrative of external interference in Azerbaijani affairs, victimization propaganda and thus further rallying nationalistic sentiments
Despite Azerbaijan’s claims, the EU mission in Armenia is perfectly legitimate, as it operates with the consent of the Armenian government adheres to all relevant international norms and laws. Furthermore, despite the current international difficulties, it is crucial for the EU to remain steadfast in its commitment to peace, stability and cooperation in the region, lest it loses sight of its values and takes another painful hit to its credibility on the global stage.
In a month, Baku will host the COP29, before which many international human rights organizations are warning about the existing environmental, lack of rule of law, and human rights problems in the country. Azerbaijan describes these concerns as black magic on the part of the Armenian lobby. To what extent does the EP listen to these questions?
The European Parliament takes the concerns raised by international human rights organizations very seriously. While the Parliament may sometimes be slow to react, and while there are always some disagreements between the various political groups at the parliament on certain parts of the discussions surrounding Azerbaijan, the issues of environmental degradation, lack of rule of law, and human rights violations are critical matters that the EP consistently monitors and addresses through its various committees and resolutions.
In fact, since 2021, the European Parliament has passed eight resolutions against Azerbaijan, and recently nominated Azerbaijani dissident and current political prisoner Dr Gubad Ibadoglu for the Sakharov prize for his work in advocating against corruption. I, alongside other like-minded colleagues, also make sure to raise the aforementioned issues whenever possible within my own group’s meetings, as well as in the form of written questions and statements during plenary sessions and committee meetings.
Regarding Azerbaijan’s blaming of Armenian lobbying for the criticism it receives, this is a cynical attempt to deflect attention from legitimate criticisms and to undermine the credibility of all those raising these issues. The Parliament always makes sure to have a comprehensive understanding of the situation in the country via conducting its own research, as well as its interactions with stakeholders like civil society organizations, human rights defenders, and various international bodies.
Finally, in light of all those developments, the European Parliament will discuss and vote on a resolution on the “Situation in Azerbaijan, violation of human rights and international law and relations with Armenia”, in the plenary session this week in Strasbourg.