Nagorno-Karabakh: MEPs need to sanction Azerbaijan accused of “ethnic cleaning”

The European Parliament voted this Thursday, October 5, in favor of sanctions “focused” in opposition to Baku, denouncing in a textual content voted by a really giant majority, a “ethnic cleaning” in Nagorno-Karabakh, after the Azerbaijani navy intervention.

MEPs, assembly in Strasbourg, “imagine that the present state of affairs quantities to ethnic cleaning” and demand “focused sanctions” in opposition to the Azerbaijani leaders, who’re allegedly responsible of violations of human rights and the ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh.

After a lightning offensive by Baku’s forces on September 19, virtually your complete Armenian inhabitants fled the self-proclaimed republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, which introduced its dissolution on January 1, 2024.

MEPs additionally “Azerbaijan is strongly suggested in opposition to embarking on a navy operation in opposition to Armenia”. In addition they reiterated their demand for the withdrawal of Baku’s troops stationed in southern Armenia.

In direction of a cease to gasoline imports?

A number of European leaders, together with French President Emmanuel Macron, have expressed concern in latest days a couple of doable navy offensive in opposition to Armenia led by Azerbaijan, which has already taken up positions within the south of the nation close to Jermuk.

The European Parliament, whose resolutions usually are not binding on member states, lastly desires a “complete evaluation of the European Union’s relations with Azerbaijan”.

Through the debate previous this vote, a number of deputies known as for going additional by pleading for a halt to gasoline imports from Azerbaijan.

The decision adopted on Thursday, the results of a compromise between the completely different political teams within the EU Parliament, initially judged on this level that it was needed to attend for the end result of occasions earlier than committing.

MEPs initially stated they have been in favor of suspending all imports of hydrocarbons from Azerbaijan, however solely within the occasion that Baku assaults Armenian territory or in any other case destabilizes “vital” its democratic establishments. However, they lastly rallied behind an modification abandoning this selection, to as an alternative demand the suspension of the partnership settlement concluded final 12 months between Brussels and Baku.

MEPs additionally known as for a “discount” of the EU’s dependence on gasoline from this nation, a few of which « half notable » is of Russian origin, they lamented.

The European Parliament can be not in favor, logically, of a renewal of the ” partnership “ concluded final 12 months, and known as on the European Fee to interrupt negotiations on this topic, so long as Baku has not given ensures on the rights of the Armenians of Karabakh.