Armenia expects EU to abandon double standards amid Azeri provocations

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has raised the international community's generic calls on both sides when it comes to Azerbaijan's provocations, urging the European Union to cease the double standards policy.

Addressing the Eastern Partnership Foreign Affairs Ministerial Meeting on Monday, November 15, Mirzoyan noted that generic statements may indicate indifference and lack of commitment from international partners because Armenia makes credible steps towards peace, while Azerbaijan continues the escalation of the situation.

"If you want to help us reach stability in the region, there is no other way than being frank on these issues and communicating to us your vision of human rights and use of force in our region without applying double standards. We stand ready to be a genuine partner with the European Union in this regard," Mirzoyan said.

According to him, the situation in the region remains fragile after Azerbaijan unleashed a large-scale war against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) in fall 2020.

"Security and realities cannot be built on the basis of massive human rights violations, thousands of lost human lives, casualties, displacements and disruption of international peace process. The use of force against the people, who are aspiring to implement their basic rights, including the right for free and secure life and the right to self determination, does not resolve the conflict," the Armenian foreign policy chief said.

"And all the statements by official Baku that Nagorno-Karabakh conflict does not exist any more do not correspond to reality as the very root of the conflict has not been addressed. We firmly believe that the conflict should find its political resolution under the auspices and within the mandate of OSCE Minsk group Co-Chairmanship."

Mirzoyan also raised that continued detention of Armenian POWs and civilians in Azerbaijan and the many cases of enforced disappearances, the so-called “Trophy park” in Baku, the hate speech and xenophobia by the top Azerbaijani officials, the infiltration and presence of Azerbaijani troops in sovereign territory of Armenia.