The European Union is concerned about the fate of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is experiencing the consequences of military actions, launched on September 19 by Azerbaijan, said Peter Stano, lead spokesperson for the external affairs of the European Union.
"It is very important that the current military operation is not used as a pretext to force the exodus of the local Armenian population of Karabakh," the spokesman said Wednesday at a press briefing in Brussels, Interfax reported.
Stano said the EU had "taken note of the latest statement by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry on the ceasefire agreement."
"We expect that there will be an immediate ceasefire on the ground and that Azerbaijan will stop the ongoing military actions," the spokesman continued.
At the same time, he said, "it is important to return to a real and honest dialog." Brussels also, he added, took note that such a dialog should take place on September 21.
The spokesman noted that the EU member states together with their international partners are actively engaged in the developments in Nagorno-Karabakh. He said that the EU Political and Security Committee gathered in Brussels for an emergency meeting on the situation around Karabakh. At the same time, the heads of EU institutions and EU member states are discussing it in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s session.
"The EU is closely monitoring the situation and the member states will decide on the next stages of their actions in this context as developments on the ground unfold," Stano said.
Peter Stano, however, did not comment on the call of some members of the European Parliament to apply sanctions against Azerbaijan against the backdrop of the escalation of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. "The application of sanctions is within the jurisdiction of the EU countries," said the European diplomat.
