The European Parliament has issued a condemnation regarding the destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan
On February 28, 2024, the European Parliament adopted its annual reports, notably the Report on the Implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy for 2023 (2023/2117 (INI)) and the Annual Report on the Implementation of the Common Security and Defense Policy (2023/2119(INI)). These reports underscored the significance of safeguarding the Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh and advocated for the imposition of sanctions against Azerbaijan.
The 2023 report on the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) is based on several crucial decisions and resolutions. These include the resolutions adopted on March 15, 2023, regarding EU-Armenia and EU-Azerbaijan relations, the resolution adopted on October 5, 2023, regarding the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, which followed the attack by Azerbaijan, and the Resolution (2023/2504(RSP)) that addressed the humanitarian situation resulting from the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh on January 19.
In its 77th point, the report on the "2023 report on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy," adopted on February 28, 2024, expresses regret over Azerbaijan's decision to pursue a military approach rather than seeking a diplomatic solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. Point 77 strongly condemns the pre-planned and unjustified attack by Azerbaijan against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. It calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to facilitate the safe return of the Armenian population to Nagorno-Karabakh and to provide robust guarantees regarding the protection of their rights. Additionally, it demands the protection of the Armenian cultural, historical, and religious heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh per UNESCO standards and Azerbaijan's international obligations.
Paragraph 80 emphasizes that any advancement of EU relations with Azerbaijan should be contingent upon the country demonstrating substantial advancements in safeguarding human rights, upholding the rule of law, promoting democracy, and protecting fundamental freedoms, including the rights of ethnic minorities. The European Parliament urges the EU to promptly impose sanctions on Azerbaijan and to suspend the memorandum of understanding on strategic partnership in the energy sector.
The report applauds Armenia's ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in paragraph 81.
The European Parliament released a report (2023/2119(INI)) regarding the implementation of the common security and defense policy of the EU. In paragraph 62 of the report, the Parliament condemns the policy of aggression, specifically referring to the pre-planned military attack of Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh. The report also highlights that the attack followed the blockade of the Lachin Corridor, which was organized to starve and isolate the Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh. This information serves as a reminder of the events that took place on September 19.
It is of particular importance that the European Parliament, in its report 2023/2119(INI), classified the attacks on the civilian population of Nagorno Karabakh and their effects as ethnic cleansing. With this report, the European Parliament calls on the EU to impose penalties on the Azerbaijani authorities, who are responsible for many cease-fire violations, as well as to suspend the energy memorandum of understanding.
In paragraph 63, the report welcomes the establishment of the European Union Civilian Mission in Armenia (EUMA), designed to bolster security in the region, and urges the Council to prolong its deployment for another five years and broaden its geographic scope to encompass the Armenia-Turkey border.
In point 65, the report urges the Council of Europe to be prepared to implement targeted and individual sanctions against those responsible for aggression, including the political and military associates of President Aliyev, and to halt the import of oil and gas from Azerbaijan in the event of any military aggression, including against Armenia's territorial integrity, in case of violations.