Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President delivered written answer to the members of European Parliament, on behalf of the European Commission. The questions concerned the EU position and current activities towards Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization process.
The EP press handout reads:
Josep Borrell: The EU continues to support efforts towards the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan on all pending issues.
On the situation of detainees from Nagorno-Karabakh, the EU calls on Azerbaijan to respect due process, the basic principles for the protection of detainees, and ensure transparency.
The EU firmly believes that confidence-building measures, including the release and repatriation of Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan, can benefit the overall peace process and pave the way for increased confidence between the sides.
In this respect, the EU welcomed the joint Armenia-Azerbaijan statement of 7 December 2023[1] on confidence-building measures, including the exchange of prisoners, and continues to call for further action in this respect.
The EU continues to engage with Azerbaijan as part of its regular Human Rights Dialogue as well as in bilateral contacts. The EU Delegation in Baku is following closely the situation on the ground, and is in close contact with the International Committee of the Red Cross, which has regular access to Armenian detainees.
Furthermore, the EU continues to call upon Azerbaijan to ensure the rights of Karabakh Armenians, including their right to return to their homes without intimidation and discrimination.
The EU also continues to provide support to the Karabakh Armenians who were displaced in September 2023 and before, and has provided over EUR 33 million in humanitarian aid to support their needs through direct humanitarian aid and budget support to the Armenian government since then.
