Leaders of the European Union urged Azerbaijan to immediate halt military actions in Artsakh.
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has called on Azerbaijan to immediately halt the military actions in Karabakh.
“During today’s meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, in the margins of the UNGA General Debate, I expressed my grave concern about reports of a military escalation around the Karabakh region,” Burić said in a statement on September 19.
“I deplored that innocent, vulnerable civilians, who have already been suffering an acute humanitarian crisis in the region, once again bear the brunt of the use of force. This cannot be tolerated. I called on Azerbaijan to immediately halt the military actions,” Burić added.
“It is high time to leave weapons, de-escalate and embrace dialogue. Only a meaningful, unconditional dialogue, involving all sides, can lead to a long-lasting peace, which has no alternative,” she said.
“The Council of Europe remains ready to engage and assist in this process, with a view to ensuring the full enjoyment of human rights by all, including rights of national minorities,” Burić added.
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Tiny Kox condemned Azerbaijan’s aggressive military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh.
“I am deeply shocked by the decision of the government of Azerbaijan to launch a new and aggressive military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh earlier today. In the space of hours this has resulted in casualties and deaths among civilians. I strongly condemn these actions and call on the authorities of Azerbaijan to cease their fire immediately,” Kox said in a statement.
“For months we have been witnessing and calling for an end to the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in the region due to the blockade of the Lachin corridor. It is inconceivable that just at the moment when the situation concerning the transport of the humanitarian supply to Nagorno-Karabakh seemed to improve and a glimpse of hope was emerging, Azerbaijan took the decision to launch this show of force,” Kox added.
“This surely represents a major blow to the prospects of achieving sustainable peace and stability in the South Caucasus. It is clear that the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh can only be resolved peacefully, through dialogue and unambiguous signals of goodwill, and on the basis on the applicable international law, paying full respect to the human rights of everyone living there,” he said.
The President of the European Council Charles Michel on Tuesday called on Baku to halt its military actions against Artsakh after Azerbaijani forces launched a massive offensive throughout Artsakh, killing two civilians, including children.
“Devastating news coming from former Nagorno-Karabakh oblast today. Military actions of Azerbaijan must be immediately halted to allow for a genuine dialogue between Baku and Karabakh Armenians,” Michel said in a statement posted on X.
The EU’s foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell warned Baku to not use the military attack to force the “exodus” of the local population of Nagorno-Karabakh.
“The European Union condemns the military escalation along the Line of Contact and in other locations in Karabakh. The EU deplores the loss of lives brought by the escalation. We call for the immediate cessation of hostilities and for Azerbaijan to stop the current military activities. There is an urgent need to return to dialogue between Baku and Karabakh Armenians. This military escalation should not be used as a pretext to force the exodus of the local population. Violence needs to stop in order to provide a conducive environment for peace and normalization talks. Genuine commitment by all sides is required to work towards negotiated outcomes. The EU remains fully engaged to facilitate the dialogue,” Borrell said in a statement on Tuesday.
The EU’s foreign affairs office echoed Michel’s calls, with Peter Stano, a spokesperson, saying that military response in unacceptable.
“We are assessing the situation very closely, watching the developments on the ground. The EU was always very consistent when it comes to our position regarding relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, that we discourage unilateral steps, we call for halting of any hostilities and for looking for solutions in the process of diplomatic dialogue in case of Armenia and Azerbaijan through the normalization process which was launched and also is facilitated by the EU,” Stano said, adding that a more specific comment and more specific reaction on the situation will be provided by High Representative Josep Borrell.
OSCE Chairman-in-Office Bujar Osmani, expressed deep concern on reports of military operations and the related danger for civilians in Stepanakert.
“As OSCE Chairman-in-Office I am deeply concerned by reports of military operations and the related danger for civilians in Stepanakert/Khankendi. I call for immediate deescalation. Peaceful dialogue should be the only option and humanitarian concerns must prevail. Today I will meet Azerbaijani FM Jeyhun Bayramov and Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan at UNGA78 in #NYC and renew my call to continue diplomatic engagement and prioritize efforts towards sustainable peace,” Osmani said on social media.
