Brussels 5 October 2023 – Today the European Parliament (EP) adopted a resolution condemning Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh and calling to impose sanctions on the Azerbaijani government. The resolution also emphasized the right of Armenians to return to Nagorno-Karabakh under international guarantees. Furthermore, the EP calls for the suspension of the ‘Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership in the Field of Energy between the European Union and Azerbaijan.’
The EP resolution, which was adopted by a vote of 491 to 9, with 36 abstentions, comes after Azerbaijan’s renewed attacks on Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023. Azerbaijan’s attacks caused the deaths of hundreds of civilians and the displacement of more than hundred thousand indigenous Armenian population from their homeland- Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh.
The EP plenary also condemns Azerbaijan’s war crimes and crimes against humanity and calls on the international community to take action to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its actions. The resolution calls for the immediate withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and the deployment of an international peacekeeping force in the region. Additionally, it calls for the protection of the property of displaced Armenians and urges Azerbaijan to release and grant amnesty to all Nagorno-Karabakh residents arrested since 19 September 2023, including former officials and captives arrested before 19 September 2023.
In addition to condemning Azerbaijan’s aggression, the resolution also stresses the right of Armenians to return to Nagorno-Karabakh under international guarantees. The MEPs call on the international community to support the Armenian people in their efforts to rebuild their lives and communities.
Commenting on the resolution the EAFJD President Kaspar Karampetian stated:
“For the second time now the EP Plenary adopts a resolution, calling on the EU executive to impose sanctions on Azerbaijan. This resolution is more concrete and detailed in its demands. Nevertheless, it also shows the immense gap between the demands of EU Parliament and the actual EU policy concerning Armenia and Artsakh, whereas the policy is what counts in reality. The resolution also calls out the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen for her shameful policy concerning Azerbaijan”.
Karampetian further elaborated:
“We are indeed grateful to the European Parliament for staying true to EU’s value system. Nevertheless, these resolutions stay futile if the EU executive does not act accordingly. Until now, both the EU Council and the EU External Action Service have supported Azerbaijan’s “integration policy” of Nagorno Karabakh/Artsakh Armenians into Azerbaijan, while it was clear that this so-called integration either meant subjugation in a dictatorial regime or exodus, if there are no tangible security guarantees on the ground. This approach and impunity have clearly encouraged Aliyev in carrying out ethnic cleansing.’’
“While it is evident that the Russian peacekeepers, as guarantors of the Trilateral Statement, carry primary responsibility, until now the EU has done nothing tangible to actually make it clear to Azerbaijan that it cannot continue its genocidal policy. This is the sad reality. Hence the Armenian side has to assess the situation with ultimate sobriety, which has been deficient until now and act accordingly, because the dangers are immense for our statehood in this geopolitical turmoil,” concluded Karampetian.
