EU Keen on Fostering Armenia-Azerbaijan Dialogue, Asserts European Parliament President
The European Union (EU) remains committed to all efforts aimed at the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan - and based on the mutual recognition of sovereignty, inviolability of borders, and territorial integrity of the two countries. This commitment was expressed by Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, during a joint press briefing on Tuesday, held with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Strasbourg, France.
Metsola further conveyed that Europe will persist in supporting Armenia as it addresses the ongoing challenges. She highlighted their commitment to assisting with the influx of refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh and facilitating their reintegration into Armenia.
Metsola emphasized the EU’s call for resuming negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan to address all outstanding issues. The goal is to reach a peace treaty, and the EU is fully dedicated to supporting this process. As Metsola noted, they are committed to fostering dialogue among all parties involved and have the support of the President of the European Council, along with the assistance of the EU Special Representative, to ensure long-lasting peace in the region.
Furthermore, Metsola commended Armenia for its commitment to the path of democracy. She stated they support Armenia’s democratic reforms and its efforts to strengthen cooperation with the European Union.
During the press conference, Nikol Pashinyan expressed Armenia’s readiness to strengthen relations with the EU. He emphasized the significance of the EU-Armenia relationship and noted that it is based on shared values, with democracy as a “strategic choice” for Armenia.
“We expect the EU’s strong support to overcome several challenges. The matter also concerns the humanitarian problems in Armenia caused by the forced displacement of more than 100,000 Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. Here, we need urgent support,” Pashinyan said.