European Parliament adopts resolution proposing, among other issues,  sanctions against Azerbaijan for violent seizure of Nagorno-Karabakh

ArmInfo.European Parliament adopts resolution, condemning Azerbaijan's violent seizure of  Nagorno-Karabakh, MEPs also  call for sanctions against those responsible and for EU to review its relations with Baku. As the official website of EP reports, "in a resolution adopted on Thursday, Parliament strongly condemns Azerbaijan's pre-planned and unjustified military attack against Nagorno-Karabakh on 19 September, which MEPs say constitutes a gross violation of international law and human rights and a clear infringement of previous attempts to achieve a ceasefire.

With over 100,000 ethnic Armenians having been forced to  flee the enclave since the latest offensive, MEPs say the current  situation amounts to ethnic cleansing and strongly condemn threats  and violence committed by Azerbaijani troops against the Armenian  inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh.  They also call on the EU and member  states to immediately offer all necessary assistance to Armenia to  deal with the influx of refugees from Nagorno- Karabakh and the  subsequent humanitarian crisis.

MEPs want to see Azeri officials sanctioned: Appalled by Azerbaijan's  latest attack, Parliament calls on the EU to adopt targeted sanctions  against the government officials in Baku responsible for multiple  ceasefire violations and human rights abuses in Nagorno-Karabakh.  While reminding the Azeri side that it bears full responsibility for  ensuring the safety and well-being of all people in the enclave, MEPs  demand investigations into abuses committed by Azerbaijani troops  that may constitute war crimes.

Expressing serious concern over irredentist and inflammatory  statements by Azerbaijani president llham Aliyev and other Azeri  officials threatening the territorial integrity of Armenia, MEPs warn  Baku against any potential military adventurism and call on Trkiye  to restrain its ally. They also condemn Trkiye's involvement in  arming Azerbaijan and its full support for Baku's offensives in both  2020 and 2023.

The EU must reassess its relations with Azerbaijan: Parliament calls  on the EU to undertake a comprehensive review of its relations with  Baku. To develop a strategic partnership with a country like  Azerbaijan, which blatantly violates international law and  international commitments, and has an alarming human rights record,  is incompatible with the objectives of EU foreign policy, MEPs say.  They urge the EU to suspend any negotiations on a renewed partnership  with Baku, and should the situation not improve, consider suspending  the application of the EU visa facilitation agreement with  Azerbaijan.  Parliament also calls on the EU to reduce its dependency  on Azeri gas imports and, in the event of military aggression or  significant hybrid attacks against Armenia, for a full EU import stop  of Azeri oil and gas. In the meantime, MEPs want the current  Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership in the Field  of Energy between the EU and Azerbaijan to be suspended.  The  resolution was adopted by 491 votes in favour, 9 against with 36  abstentions" the source notes.  The full text of the resolution can  be found at the following link: europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RC-  9-2023-0393_EN.pdf.

European Parliament resolutions on foreign policy issues are not  legally binding, but other European institutions must listen to the  opinions of MEPs.