Marina Kaljurand's mandate as the head of the delegation for relations with the South Caucasus in the European Parliament is coming to an end. In this regard, the MEP issued a statement:
"It has been an honour and privilege to head the European Parliament delegation for relations with the very important South Caucasus region over the last five years. As my mandate draws to a close, I wish to tanks my colleagues and counterparts for the good cooperation during this eventful period.
Reflecting on the past years, I am reminded of the remarkable progress in EU-Armenia relations, and of the role played by our Parliament in this extraordinary endeavor. This dynamic development of our ties has been underpinned by Armenia steadfast commitment to democratic reforms, even in the most difficult of times, and I look to the future filled with hope for the further intensification of our relations based on common values.
I regret the repeated decision of the Azerbaijani leadership to resort to the use of force and the tragic consequences this has had in terms of human and material loss and the forced displacement of the entire population of Nagorno-Karabakh. Nevertheless, a chance for a lasting peace and normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations exists and must be pursued. I applaud the concession made by the Armenian government in this regard; it is essential that both sided abandon maximalist position for the sake of peace.
I am also concerned by the massive repression of civil liberties in Azerbaijan over the last years, which represents a crucial obstacle for the development of our relations. I am proud of the European Parliament’s principled stance and I want to hope that the country’s leadership will reverse its course.
Georgia has reached a major milestone when it was granted EU candidate status and the European Parliament has been an unwavering supporter of the Georgian people’s European aspirations. I deeply regret the steps taken by the Georgian Government which are in direct contradiction with these aspirations, and jeopardize the country’s European future. I trust that, whoever wins the upcoming elections in Georgia, will bring the country back on the track of democratic reforms and European integration. I am confident that the European Parliament and its South Caucasus Delegation will be there to accompany that process."
