MEPs call on Azerbaijan to release Armenian prisoners

ArmInfo. In the run up to COP29 to take place in Baku later this month, 52 Members of the European Parliament (MEP) address three main demands to the Government of Azerbaijan and the EU executive leadership, concerning the Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijan, the Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno Karabakh/Artsakh as well as the Azerbaijani aggression against the Republic of Armenia.

The Members of the European Parliament who co-signed, are from the main political  groups, such as EPP, S&D, Renew, ECR, Greens/EFA, the Left as well as  non- attached MEPs. 

In the statement published today, the EU parliamentarians elaborate:  "In the run-up to Conference of the Parties - COP29 to be held in  Azerbaijan in November 2024, we would like to emphasize that besides  being an impactful and significant conference on climate, it also  embodies commitment to principles of justice and human dignity.  Hence, it is of paramount importance for the host country, in this  case Azerbaijan, to showcase commitment to these principles too." 

The Members of the European Parliament state, "In line with the  relevant resolutions and reports of the European Parliament, adopted  since May 2021, we call on the Azerbaijani Government to immediately  and unconditionally release all Armenian prisoners of war, hostages  and captives in Baku, including the military-political leadership of  Nagorno Karabakh;

ensure that the Armenian cultural and religious heritage in Nagorno  Karabakh stays intact, including the monasteries khachkars and  refrain from their albitization as well as history revisionism;

refrain from threats and any aggression against the Republic of  Armenia, withdraw the Azerbaijani military forces from the occupied  territories of the Republic of Armenia."

Furthermore, the EU parliamentarians "call on the EU Council, the  Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative  of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to heed the  above- mentioned resolutions adopted by the European Parliament and  act in their spirit". 

Commenting on the statement the President of the European Armenian  Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD), Kaspar Karampetian  said, "This call of the EU parliamentarians comes as a clear signal  addressed both to the Azerbaijani and the EU leadership right before  COP29. The EAFJD has been continuously sensitizing the MEPs on the  issues covered in the statement, and we are grateful to them as well  as to the European Parliament in general for being the voice of  justice".  

"It is needless to say that the EAFJD, as a European grassroot  organisations, will continue holding the EU executive accountable and  working towards ensuring that it takes impactful steps in this  direction," concluded Karampetian.