We protest against the biased and unfair resolution that the European Parliament adopted via special procedure on 19 January 2023, and we strongly refute the allegations resting on lies and fabricated information. Tabled at the instigation of the MEPs holding a biased stance against Azerbaijan and ringled by the representatives of France, this joint resolution alleging humanitarian consequences of the conjectural blockade of the mountainous portion of Garabagh, recognised as territory of Azerbaijan internationally, once again signifies the inability of the authors of this document to depart from double standards.

We hasten to bring to the attention of our colleagues within the European Parliament the fact that an important component of the obligations envisaged in the Trilateral Statement signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia on 10 November 2020, especially, as regards complete withdrawal of the armed forces of Armenia from Garabagh, restoration of all the regional economic and transport connexions, guaranteeing the safety of transport liaison between the western provinces and Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan and establishing new transport communications – that tremendous component has not been carried into life to date through the fault of Armenia. It becomes clear that the pains Azerbaijan has taken since the signing of the Trilateral Statement to ensure peace and security in the region come under the premeditated and purposeful blow being dealt by those powers who chose to advocate separatism, terrorism and war.

Those powers do not wish to see that certain circles in Armenia and their backers are nurturing revanchist plans and cherishing the hope that they will again plunge the region into a calamitous maelstrom. Provocations are committed on the borders. Transportation of militants and military cargoes as well as of narcotics and mines has been organised in the Lachin Corridor. Illegal exploitation of mineral resources continues in the territory temporarily designated as an area of responsibility of the Russian peace-keeping contingent. The peaceful protestation of civil activists and ecologists on the Lachin-Khankendi motorway, brought about by the prevention of access to the specified area for the monitoring purposes for state officials and experts of Azerbaijan, has been continuing for longer than a month now. It should be mentioned in this regard that any blocking of more than 20,000 citizens of the Armenian ethnicity who are resident in Garabagh is quite out of the question contrary to what is purported in the resolution of the European Parliament. The Lachin Corridor is open for the haulage of humanitarian cargoes by the Russian peace-keepers and representatives of the Committee of the Red Cross as well as for transportation of Armenians living in Garabagh – including children and ailing persons. As regards the allegation of Azerbaijan’s having disrupted natural gas supplies to the territory of Garabagh, it is as ludicrous as it is unfounded. All that indicates clearly that certain groups within the European Parliament act being under the influence of the Armenian Lobby and the pro-Armenian forces.

It should be mentioned, too, that there are the sound forces in the European Parliament as well – those who are aware of the developments current in the South Caucasus and call for fair treatment of Azerbaijan. Their voices are often unheeded, though, lamentably. The principal political parties of the European Parliament had not supported the aforementioned resolution and had not taken part in the vote on it. Thus, a document concerning such matters as are beyond the competence scope of the European Parliament in the first place was adopted at the instigation of the corrupt lobbyist parliamentary groups. That was delivering another punch upon the reputation of the European Parliament, whose name often surfaces in corruption-related scandals.

It is deplorable that MEPs cannot and will not see the new reality that Azerbaijan has created in the region but, rather, consistently and methodically undermine the peace negotiation process that Azerbaijan has been furthering these past two post-war years. Such resolutions obviously are detrimental to the mutually advantageous ties of co-operation between Azerbaijan and the European Union which develop dynamically against the background of the geopolitical processes that have engulfed Europe and the world of late. Perhaps, it would not be out of place to recall the opposition that the European Parliament put up at the time anon to the South Gas Corridor Project, fulfilled at the suggestion and with the participation of Azerbaijan and now playing a serious role in maintaining the energy security of Europe.

In view of all of the above, we now urge the leadership of the European Parliament to put an end to such devastating and biased forces, those mired in corruption, and, instead, to support the efforts to establish peace and stability in the region by passing unbiased documents reflecting the new realia set in the region of the South Caucasus.

The Members of the
International and Inter-Parliamentary Relations Committee of
The Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and
The Azerbaijani Members of
The European Union-Azerbaijan
Parliamentary Co-operation Committee

19 January 2023, Baku