EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Magdalena Grono has rejected criticism of her participation in a recent diplomatic visit to Karabakh, stressing that she does not dispute the region’s Armenian cultural and historical heritage.

Grono was part of a diplomatic delegation from 58 countries and nine international organizations that visited Karabakh and East Zangezur on September 11-12. The trip, organized by Azerbaijani authorities, included visits to historical and religious sites and meetings with local officials, former displaced residents, and media representatives. During the tour, Azerbaijani Presidential Adviser Hikmet Hajiyev presented Baku’s interpretation of the history of sites including Gandzasar and Dadivank, describing them as part of Caucasian Albanian heritage.

The visit triggered criticism in Armenia, particularly over the presentation of contested historical claims. Armenian officials and commentators argued that such narratives should not be presented as established historical fact while Armenia and Azerbaijan are trying to consolidate their peace process.

Grono later clarified her own position, maintaining that she recognizes the Armenian presence and cultural heritage of Karabakh. At the same time, she noted that Armenia and Azerbaijan maintain significantly different interpretations of some historical and religious sites and argued that these disputes need to be addressed as part of the wider reconciliation process.

The issue remained part of Grono’s engagement in Armenia. During her September 14 visit to Yerevan, Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan accompanied her to the Matenadaran, where she was introduced to the institution’s collection of Armenian manuscripts, including material connected with Gandzasar.

The controversy has added a cultural and historical dimension to ongoing efforts between Baku and Yerevan. Armenian civil society representatives have cautioned that competing narratives over the region’s past can deepen mistrust, while Grono has emphasized that addressing such disagreements is part of the broader reconciliation process.