What is the Red Line for You in the Case of Azerbaijan? Gevorgyan's Question to Edgar Rinkēvičs

During the summer session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Armen Gevorgyan, a key member of the Armenian National Assembly delegation and the main rapporteur on local and regional authorities, posed a question to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and Chair of the Council of Ministers, Edgar Rinkēvičs, regarding the actions of member states and their possible responses.

Gevorgyan was interested in which scenario would lead the Committee of Ministers to take a more decisive stance, compelling Azerbaijan to respect the norms of international law and to prevent further war crimes. “In this regard, I would like to ask, what is the red line for you in the case of Azerbaijan?” he inquired.

In his inquiry, Gevorgyan reminded that Azerbaijan continues to undermine democracy standards and the rule of law and is engaged in the ethnic cleansing of the indigenous Armenian population in the region. “I do not think that the separation by colored lines is the best approach in line with the spirit of this great organization,” replied Latvian Foreign Minister Edgar Rinkēvičs, adding that the committee is determined to ensure that each member state adheres to the fundamental statutes and conventions of international law, as well as European conventions.

He stated that there is a general principle in the presidency of the committee, which is the norms of international law. He called for each member state to uphold those norms. Rinkēvičs also emphasized that the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights must be implemented as well.