German parliamentarian: no risk of ethnic cleansing in  Nagorno-Karabakh should be tolerated 

ArmInfo.On June 7, Vice Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Hakob Arshakyan received Chairman  of Foreign Affairs Committee of the German Bundestag Michael Roth. This was reported by the press service of the Armenian Parliament.

The source notes that the meeting was attended by Chairman of the  Armenia-Germany Friendship Group Vladimir Vardanyan and Chairman of  the NA Commission on Foreign Relations Sarkis Khandanyan.  Welcoming  the guest, the NA Vice Speaker stressed the importance of developing  friendly relations between Armenia and Germany, pointing to the  expansion of cooperation between the RA National Assembly and the  Bundestag.

Touching upon the bilateral cooperation, the NA Vice Speaker  emphasized that Germany is Armenia's largest trade and economic  partner among the EU countries. Hakob Arshakyan highly appreciated  Germany's assistance to Armenia's democratic agenda.

<Armenia attaches great importance to the implementation of the  Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between the EU and  Armenia, as well as to the fact that Germany is among the 6 EU  countries that have joined forces with the European Investment Bank  for the benefit of the development of the Syunik region of Armenia>,  the NA Vice Speaker stressed , highly appreciating the Armenian-  German decentralized cooperation.

Presenting regional challenges, Hakob Arshakyan noted that on  December 12, 2022, Azerbaijan closed the Lachin corridor, the only  road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia and the outside world,  as a result of which 120,000 Armenians are actually under blockade.  According to the Vice Speaker of the National Assembly, these actions  of Azerbaijan contradict the obligations assumed by the tripartite  statement of November 9, 2020, and grossly violate the legally  binding decision of the International Court of Justice. "At first it  was an artificial environmental action, but since April 23,  Azerbaijan has already established a checkpoint and officially  blocked the Lachin corridor," Arshakyan said.  He also spoke about 38  Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijan. "We hope that the EU  commitment to support the return of prisoners will be successful,"  the NA Vice Speaker noted, stressing that Azerbaijan's anti-Armenian  policy does not change.

A few days ago, while delivering food, two Armenian servicemen were  kidnapped, against whom false criminal cases were initiated in  Azerbaijan.  According to Hakob Arshakyan, Armenia is advancing the  agenda of opening an era of peace in the region.  "We are making  efforts both towards unblocking regional infrastructures and  transport routes, as well as demarcation and security of borders,"  the NA Vice Speaker stressed, reiterating that Armenia has no  territorial claims against its neighbors. "On behalf of Armenia, I  would like to welcome Germany's efforts aimed at strengthening peace  and stability in the region, creating an atmosphere of mutual trust,  as well as promoting regional cooperation," Hakob Arshakyan stressed.

Emphasizing the deployment of the long-term EU monitoring mission in  the country, the Vice Speaker of the National Assembly thanked the  German government for supporting this decision.  Referring to the  five-sided meeting held in Chisinau on June 1 within the framework of  the European Political Community summit with the participation of the  Prime Minister of Armenia, the Presidents of Azerbaijan, France and  the German Chancellor, President of the European Council, Hakob  Arshakyan welcomed the efforts of Germany in ensuring the  Armenian-Azerbaijani dialogue.

Expressing gratitude for the reception, the chairman of the Bundestag  Committee on Foreign Relations conveyed greetings from the chairman  of the German Bundestag, noting that the latter attaches great  importance to the development of bilateral relations not only at the  governmental level, but also at the interstate and  inter-parliamentary levels.

Michael Roth agreed with the point of view of the Armenian  parliamentarians that a lasting peace should be established in the  region. He stressed the support of both the European Union and the  German government in ensuring the speedy return of prisoners to their  homeland.

l Roth noted that he had publicly criticized the blockade of the  Lachin corridor several times and considered non-compliance with the  decision of the International Court of Justice unacceptable. <I think  this should be implemented immediately and the corridor should be  opened. The Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh must continue to  live in security, its security and rights must be ensured, no risk of  ethnic cleansing should be tolerated ," the German MP expressed the  opinion.