The European Parliament in Strasbourg has signed two resolutions on signing associated agreements with Azerbaijan and Armenia. Armenia is to withdraw from Azerbaijani territories and allow refugees to return. The European Parliament urged the EU to be more active in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, a threat to stability in South Caucasus.
Spokesman of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Elman Abdullayev said that the document refers to the EP’s older resolution of May 20, 2010, regarding the EU strategy in South Caucasus. The document supports Azerbaijan’s territorial unity.
Abdullayev noted that the document points out violation of territorial unity as harm to the Eastern Partnership program. The document urges Armenian forces to leave the occupied territories. It also emphasizes on Azerbaijan’s role in providing Europe with energy resources.
Andrey Areshev, senior scientist of the Institute for Political and Social Studies of the Black Sea and Caspian Region, expert of the Center for Studies of Middle Asia and Caucasus of the Institute for Oriental Studies of the RAS, told Vestnik Kavkaza that the European Union is gradually increasing activity in the South Caucasus.
The expert believes that officials of other European organizations stress in energy security and diversity of energy shipments from Middle Asia to Europe. The EU will emphasize on Madrid principles, still under discussion at the OSCE Minsk Group.
Areshev notes that the EU shows sustainable interest in the Caucasus, but it has not real instruments to influence sides. NATO has them, but it is very conserved in the issue. Iran and Russia also show presence in the area.
Fikret Sadykhov, an Azerbaijani political analyst and professor of the Western University, says that the new resolution of the European Parliament is a major diplomatic achievement. It recognizes Azerbaijani territorial unity. Demands for Armenia to withdraw from the occupied territories were made at the G8 summit in Aquila.
Alexey Vlasov, Editor-in-Chief of Vestnik Kavkaza, noted diplomatic success of Azerbaijan in passing of the resolution. But the Eastern Partnership format is still not clear enough to encourage sides for compromise or Yerevan to fulfill the resolution. Every time the talks concern South Caucasus, European bureaucrats fail to give clear statements. Yerevan would not fear their threats, Vlasov believes.
