Azerbaijan suspends ties with European Parliament

(Horizon Media) — Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs today summoned the European Union’s Ambassador, Mariana Kuyunjić, and delivered a note of protest, strongly condemning what it described as the “unfounded and biased provisions” of the resolution adopted yesterday by the European Parliament.

In parallel, the Milli Majlis decided to suspend its relations with the European Parliament and to establish a special commission tasked with “taking decisions regarding the European Parliament’s anti-Azerbaijani activities.”

The day prior, the European Parliament had overwhelmingly reaffirmed its support for the rights of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, including the protection of their identity, property, and cultural heritage, as well as their right to a safe, unimpeded, and dignified return under international guarantees. Calling for the conclusion of a comprehensive peace agreement, the resolution also condemned “Azerbaijan’s unjust detention of Armenian prisoners of war, detainees, and hostages,” and demanded their immediate and unconditional release.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry had earlier characterized the document, adopted with the support of all political groups in the European Parliament, as “unfounded and biased,” asserting that “the Armenians of Karabakh left the region voluntarily.” Baku also reiterated that individuals described by the European Parliament as prisoners of war had “committed serious crimes, including war crimes.”

Baku further warned that “such an approach by the European Parliament negatively affects the process of normalizing relations in the region,” maintaining that the Armenians of Karabakh left their homes voluntarily, and that calls for their return constitute “interference in Azerbaijan’s internal affairs.”

Speaker of Parliament Sabina Gafarova also stated today that this is not the first time the Milli Majlis has been compelled to suspend relations with the European Parliament “due to the adoption of pro-Armenian documents.”

“Unfortunately, the past 10 years have shown that the European Parliament does not intend to abandon its biased actions against Azerbaijan,” Gafarova said.

“By encouraging revanchist forces, the European Parliament is attempting to once again turn our region into a zone of conflict,” the Milli Majlis statement added.