Immediate Withdrawal from Armenian Territory: EU-Armenia Parliamentary Partnership's Call to Azerbaijan

The EU-Armenia Parliamentary Partnership Committee calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately withdraw from all parts of Armenian territory. This statement was made following the 3rd meeting of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Partnership Committee held in Brussels.

Arman Yeghoyan, the chair of the Armenian National Assembly's Permanent Commission on European Integration, stated this on his Facebook page.

As a result of the meeting, the Parliamentary Partnership Committee adopted a concluding statement that emphasizes that stable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan cannot be achieved through military means or threats of the use of force.

Yeghoyan presented several key points from the statement: the Committee demands a comprehensive political settlement of the conflict in accordance with international law, based on the principles of non-use of force, territorial integrity, and the equal rights and self-determination of peoples outlined in the Helsinki Final Act, as well as the fundamental principles and elements of the OSCE Minsk Group's 2009 framework.

It also highlights that the full implementation of all agreements reached between the parties, primarily the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, is a necessary prerequisite for progress towards peace. In this context, it condemns Azerbaijan's violation of its obligations to ensure safe movement through the Lachin corridor, urging an immediate cessation of the blockade according to the International Court of Justice's order from February 22, 2023.

The statement reminds of the necessity to open all transport links in the region and calls upon the authorities of Armenia and Azerbaijan to reach an agreement on the frameworks concerning this matter, which must fully respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national legislation of the parties involved.

Furthermore, it strongly condemns the large-scale military aggression by Azerbaijan against the territory of the Republic of Armenia in September 2022, as well as military incursions that began in May 2021.

The Committee welcomes the deployment of the EU's civilian mission in Armenia and calls on Azerbaijan to fully cooperate with the EU mission and allow its presence on its side of the border.

It demands the immediate and unconditional release of all Armenian prisoners of war and other detained persons, calls on Azerbaijan to investigate all reports regarding the forced disappearance of Armenian prisoners of war, strongly condemns the torture and killing of Armenian soldiers and unarmed prisoners by Azerbaijani armed forces in September 2022, and insists on the necessity of a thorough and transparent investigation by Azerbaijani authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable.

The statement proposes the establishment of an independent transitional justice mechanism to examine allegations of war crimes, address the issue of missing persons, investigate allegations of enforced disappearances, and assess the factual events that occurred during armed conflict.

There is serious concern regarding reports of the distortion of the origin of Armenian cultural heritage monuments in and around Nagorno-Karabakh following the 2020 war. It emphasizes the need to ensure the entry of an independent UNESCO expert mission into Nagorno-Karabakh without conditions.

The committee positively assesses the significant reforms implemented in recent years, which have established Armenia as a fully democratic country and a regional leader in good governance, although it expresses concern over the increasing polarization of the political field and calls on all political forces in Armenia to exercise restraint.

It acknowledges the successful implementation of agreements regarding the facilitation of entry permits by Armenia and urges the EU Council to initiate dialogue on visa liberalization with Armenia to further strengthen people-to-people contacts.

The statement also underscores the significant boost in investments provided by the EU's economic and investment programs, which will help Armenia build a dynamic and resilient economy, highlighting its focus on key sectors, including strategic connectivity projects and support for the most vulnerable areas. It welcomes Armenia's progress in implementing priority initiatives within the program.