ArmInfo. Armenia is facing a humanitarian crisis and the EU must help Armenia take care of its people.
Rasa Jukneviciene, Member of the European Parliament/Former member of the Lithuanian Parliament/ Former President of the NATO PA/ former Minister of Defence of Lithuania stated during Tuesday's debates in the European Parliament.
Yesterday the European Parliament held discussions about the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and around it. The speakers condemned the actions of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and criticized the leaders of the European Union, in particular the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. European parliamentarians noted that they had repeatedly warned about the threat to Nagorno-Karabakh and proposed introducing sanctions against Aliyev and his entourage.
As Rasa Jukneviciene noted, tthat EU must be prepared to impose sanctions on Azerbaijan if its military moves into Armenia's territory," the MEP said. (Armed forces of Azerbaijan have been in the territory of the country for quite a long time, ed. note).
EU must be prepared to impose sanctions on Azerbaijan if its military moves into Armenia's territory. I hope that all responsible political forces in Armenia can find the strength, instead of fighting, to start a debate on the European future of Armenia.
The MP noted that the Armenians have already realized that relying on Russia was a strategic mistake. < I hope that all responsible political forces in Armenia can find the strength, instead of fighting, to start a debate on the European future of Armenia. I would like to hear here the opinion of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on this issue. The EU must be ready to support the European future of Armenia if the Armenians wish for it," the MEP said.
In turn, MEP Fabio Castaldo said that the EU sacrificed the Armenians for the sake of "realpolitik". "It is necessary to freeze contracts with Baku and impose sanctions against it," said Fabio Castaldo. Meanwhile, MP Marina Kaljurand called for demands to be made against Aliyev. She emphasized that what Baku did was ethnic cleansing. "Armenia needs help, and the mission of the European Union must expand in Armenia," the deputy emphasized.
And MEP Michael Gahler noted that RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan needs to give a clear message that Armenia will receive a European perspective. "Russia punishes Armenians for showing European orientation. The democracy of Armenia must be defended", the MEP noted.