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, the situation in Armenia is alarming. In 2020, the war against Artzak killed thousands of Armenians and demonstrated the overwhelming military superiority of Azerbaijan and its Turkish ally. We've been alerting relentlessly. The Azeri aggression was still in its infancy and the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh was inevitable. The blockade of the Lachin Corridor was the prelude to this, and this crime against humanity was perpetrated in full view of the international community without any reaction. Where are we today? Part of Armenian territory is already occupied by the Azerbaijani army, which now openly threatens to invade the south of the country. At our insistence, the European Union has sent an observation mission to the country, whose role is essential. In these statements, the Commission proposes to strengthen the ties between the EU and Armenia and to support a peace agreement with Azerbaijan. This is of course necessary, but it cannot be enough. Peace will only be consolidated if the balance of power between Yerevan and Baku is rebalanced. Therefore, Armenia must be given access to the same funds that have been allocated to Ukraine to resist the Russian invasion: for the support of refugees, especially those coming by the tens of thousands from Nagorno-Karabakh, for the support of its economy and of course, to provide sufficient military support and armaments to deter further aggression, as French diplomacy has begun to do.