The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, defended the EU’s efforts to end tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan on the evening of Tuesday October 4 in front of MEPs who called on the EU to do more and to be tougher on Baku.
“The EU, from the beginning, did what it could do: call for a dialogue and introduce a ceasefire” which has since been violated, Mr Borrell explained. “We can’t do much more than we do now. We are doing what we can with the means at our disposal”, he said, promising that the EU was not sparing its diplomatic efforts. The High Representative recalled that the EU was using its political influence and dialogue as well as its influence with the countries involved in the region, that it had a permanent representative in the region who was in permanent contact with the parties, that it was discussing with the members of the Minsk Group, and that it was providing humanitarian assistance and financing demining operations.
“If you have any ideas, I'd be happy that you share them with me”, he repeatedly told MEPs when asked what more he could do.
Mr Borrell revealed that the EU had proposed the deployment of an arbitration mission to the border, but that Baku had refused. “We are working to get the border commission to meet in Brussels before the end of the month”, he added.
The High Representative explained as well that he was working to obtain the return of all prisoners of war. He also called on Turkey, which supports Azerbaijan, to use its influence to ease tensions.
Asked about videos showing men in Azerbaijani military uniforms executing Armenian prisoners of war (see EUROPE 13034/25), Mr Borrell said he had asked for an investigation into the events and that Azerbaijani officials had pledged to open an investigation. He said that Armenia had requested that the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) or the EU send a fact-finding mission. “We are ready to do this at least provisionally, until the OSCE is ready”, he stressed, adding that for this to happen, both sides had to agree.
Several MEPs criticised Mr Borrell for putting Armenia and Azerbaijan back to back when the latter had shelled Armenian territory. Asked about the possibility of sanctions against Baku, the High Representative said that, to his knowledge, no Member State had proposed such an option.
Similarly, while some MEPs questioned Azerbaijan’s presence at the European political community meeting in Prague (see other news), Mr Borrell said that invitations depended on the President of the European Council and that Azerbaijan was invited because of its association agreement with the EU. “If you think an initiative should be taken, do it, ask for the Association Agreement to be suspended”, he told MEPs. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)