“In Nagorno-Karabakh, the conflict is between two principles: that of territorial integrity versus the right to self-determination“, said the Danish Liberal Michael Aastrup Jensen in a current affairs debate on the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan organised by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Monday.
A long-standing conflict, the initiator of the debate recalled, but one that both sides had pledged to resolve peacefully in 2001, when they simultaneously joined the Strasbourg organisation.
A return to the negotiating table was called for by all the political groups, which welcomed Russian mediation but condemned Turkey for “inciting Azerbaijan to persevere with military action”.
While the political management of the crisis falls within the remit of the UN and the OECD (Minsk Group), PACE wants to play its part in defending fundamental rights and has recalled the commitments made by all member states under the European Convention on Human Rights (right to life, prohibition of torture) and their obligations in terms of protection of heritage or freedom of information and expression.
Mr Jensen also stressed that “an environment conducive to peace must be created”, and for this to happen “Armenia and Azerbaijan must neither promote hate speech on the internet nor encourage the diaspora to become involved.”
Speaking on behalf of the European United Left, Tiny Kox of the Netherlands, for his part, called on PACE to mobilise all its capacities and networks to strengthen the tools at its disposal. He also hopes for the sending of members of the assembly to Baku and Yerevan. (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)