EU Continues to Call on Azerbaijan to Ensure Rights of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh: Borrell

The European Union continues to call on Azerbaijan to guarantee the rights of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, including their right to return to their homes without intimidation and discrimination. This was emphasized by Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in response to questions from Members of the European Parliament, as reported by Armenpress.

“The EU continues to support efforts aimed at normalizing relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan regarding all unresolved issues,” Borrell noted.

Regarding the situation of prisoners held in Azerbaijan, the EU has urged the country to respect due process, uphold fundamental principles of prisoner protection, and ensure transparency. “The EU is convinced that confidence-building measures, including the release and repatriation of Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan, can benefit the overall peace process and pave the way for increased trust between the parties,” he said.

Borrell reminded that in this context, the EU welcomed the joint statement of Armenia and Azerbaijan on December 7, 2023, concerning confidence-building measures, including the exchange of prisoners. The EU continues to urge further steps in this regard.

“The EU continues to engage with Azerbaijan within the framework of its regular dialogue on human rights, as well as in bilateral contacts,” Borrell added. It was noted that the EU delegation is closely monitoring the situation on the ground and is in close contact with the International Committee of the Red Cross, which has regular access to Armenian prisoners.

“Moreover, the EU continues to call on Azerbaijan to ensure the rights of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, including their right to return to their homes without intimidation and discrimination,” Borrell stated.

The EU is also continuing to provide support to the Armenians displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023 and has provided over 33 million euros in humanitarian assistance since then.