Wednesday, March 15 2023 16:18

ArmInfo. Today, at a plenary session in Strasbourg, the European Parliament adopted a report on  relations between the EU and Azerbaijan. Vice-Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Zeljana Zovko worked on the report as a European  Parliament Rapporteur and this is the first comprehensive European Parliament report since 2018 on EU-Azerbaijan relations. The report  assesses the state of relations between the EU and Azerbaijan in the light of the current geopolitical uncertainty.

As Zovko herself said, "the report highlights Azerbaijan's key role  as a strategic supplier of fossil fuel energy to the EU: "whereas the  South Caucasus is strategically placed in the global energy market  and Azerbaijan is a strategic supplier of energy (especially oil and  gas) to the EU; whereas it is becoming increasingly important in this  role given the need for the EU to diversify its energy supplies".

"Although it is in the interest of the EU to develop strategic  cooperation and economic integration with Azerbaijan, it must also  continue to promote human rights and democratic standards in the  country. Respect for freedom of speech and the rights of minorities  also contributes to peaceful coexistence and security for all in the  South Caucasus," Zovko said and added that this approach should be  followed in the negotiations on a new bilateral agreement between the  EU and Azerbaijan.

The report also notes that  "the armed conflict between Armenia and  Azerbaijan over Nagorno- Karabakh, which over the years has caused  immense suffering and destruction, has significantly hampered the  development and stability of the whole South Caucasus region and  impacts wider European stability; is convinced that sustainable peace  between Armenia and Azerbaijan cannot be achieved through military  means and the threat of use of force, but requires a comprehensive  political settlement in accordance with international law, including  the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, the 1975 OSCE Helsinki  Final Act, in particular the three principles of non-use of force,  territorial integrity and self-determination, the OSCE Minsk Group's  2009 Basic Principles, as well as the agreements reached between the  parties, including the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration; reaffirms that, in  order to be effective, a comprehensive peace treaty must include  provisions that guarantee the integrity of Armenian sovereign  territory, the rights and security of the Armenian population  residing in Nagorno-Karabakh and other conflict-afflicted areas and  the prompt and safe return of all refugees and internally displaced  people to their homes; calls on the international community to remain  seized of this conflict, which concerns the stability and security of  the whole region"

"I welcome the increased diplomatic activity of the EU in this area  and call on the EU to be an impartial mediator in the region through  preventive diplomacy, including by promoting interfaith and  intercultural dialogue," Zovko said. In addition, she stressed that  the EU should not repeat the mistakes of the past, when malevolent  actors used its passivity to increase influence in the region.

In conclusion, the report takes a candid approach to issues in the  region and highlights the importance of maintaining a positive and  constructive relationship between the EU and Azerbaijan. Building  strong EU relations with neighboring countries is critical and the  adopted report can serve as a basis for future cooperation.