27
Feb
2024
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Closer ties between the EU and Armenia and the need for a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia (debate)
Mr President! Was gas supplies from Azerbaijan more important to the European Commission than the lives of innocent people in Nagorno-Karabakh? There is no doubt that the international community, especially Russia, has abandoned Armenia because the Kremlin considered economic ties with Azerbaijan more important than the brutal expulsion of over one hundred thousand ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. The danger is by no means over. The Azerbaijani regime continues to upgrade, most recently with Chinese warplanes. I therefore strongly support the fact that the French government has supplied air defence systems and armoured personnel carriers to Armenia and is trying to close the gap created by the Russian withdrawal from Armenia. In Arzach we had to observe a crime against humanity that must not be repeated. The Commission should follow the example of France in order to guarantee long-term security in the Caucasus. Strengthening the very good work of the EU Monitoring Mission under Dr Markus Ritter and concrete negotiations on visa facilitation are further important milestones.