It Is Necessary to Refrain from Aggressive Rhetoric: Charles Michel on Aliyev's Statements

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, has addressed statements made by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who speaks of peace on one hand while simultaneously making claims about Armenian territories on the other hand.

During a press conference following negotiations with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan, Michel responded to a question from Armenpress regarding the contradictions in Aliyev's rhetoric about peace and territorial claims. He emphasized that it is essential to refrain from aggressive rhetoric to address all components and elements that need to be discussed.

“I also have a meeting with the Azerbaijani president tomorrow, and I will try to see what constructive and positive role the European Union can play in supporting the Minsk Group and also in offering our experience. The EU’s history is also based on overcoming past conflicts. There has been significant progress at the EU level following the resolution of those conflicts. We succeeded: initially, it was not easy, but we managed to make step-by-step progress in building this unique political framework based on mutual respect and cooperation,” explained Michel.

Addressing the promotion of regional cooperation, he specifically spoke about issues in the transportation sector. “I know there are programs that include railways. This could be one possible area for dialogue. I do not underestimate the difficulties; I understand the obstacles and challenges. However, the presence of political will is crucial here. This does not mean that every issue can be resolved in one day; it will take time, there will be difficulties, but first and foremost, it is better to try to create a more cooperative atmosphere, to try to understand what the differences in opinions and arguments are, and to seek potential solutions,” detailed Charles Michel.