Ep Report On South Caucasus Mitigated

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EP report on South Caucasus mitigated

 

 

The European Parliament adopted on Thursday, 17 January, a resolution entitled “On a more effective EU policy for the South Caucasus: from promises to actions”. The MEPs gathered in plenary session voted the final report [1] prepared by Mrs Polfer (Liberal, Luxemburg) and the 27 amendments by 567 votes with 25 against.

 

In an overall view, the European Parliament considers that “the EU needs to develop a clear profile and a stronger presence in the region”. The Parliament works for a socioeconomic integration as advanced as possible with the States of the region by supporting “an inbuilt differentiation in the application of the ENP policy towards the countries concerned […] according to their individual merits”.

 

Therefore, the Parliament “commends the internal political and institutional reforms undertaken by Armenia following the constitutional reform and in the context of implementation of the ENP Action Plan” and “encourages the Armenian authorities to continue on this path and to make further progress in strengthening democratic structures, the rule of law and protection of human rights”; a support also given to Georgia with some reserves because of “the political developments in Georgia in November 2007, which escalated into a violent police crackdown on peaceful demonstrations, the closing-down of independent media outlets and the declaration of the state of emergency”. We also note that the MEPs calls on Georgia to respect minority rights – the Armenians living in Djavakhk – “in compliance with the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities”.

 

On the other hand, the report is without appeal on Azerbaijan and shows “once again” the MEPs serious concern “about the deterioration of the human rights situation and media freedom in Azerbaijan”. The resolution “calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to ensure freedom of the media, to release immediately all journalists remaining in prison, to stop harassment of journalists, particularly in the form of abusive use of criminal libel laws”.

 

We especially note that the European Parliament “reiterates its respect and support for the territorial integrity and internationally recognised borders of Azerbaijan, as well as for the right to self-determination, in accordance with the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act”, while the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs was satisfied with supporting “the internationally recognised borders of Azerbaijan”.

 

“We are satisfied with this evolution: the amendments adopted - especially those tabled by the EPP group (European Popular Party – Conservative) have generally equilibrated the resolution; however the report remains insufficient in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict and the biased and aggressive role of Turkey in the South Caucasus”, declared the executive director of the European Armenian Federation, Laurent Leylekian.

 

In other respects, while noting the infrastructure, energy and transports projects undertaken by Turkey for Azerbaijan, the European Parliament “strongly requests the countries involved and the Commission to include Armenia in the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline […] in compliance with the regional cooperation objective promoted by the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)”. The Parliament notes that “the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway project bypasses the existing and fully operative rail line in Armenia.” A practise qualified “short-sighted and politically motivated which violate ENP principles of sound development”.

 

The resolution condemns the “instrumentalisation of refugees” and the “martial speeches”, without mentioning the country (Azerbaijan) responsible of these practises.

 

Finally, the European Parliament is content with reiterating its call upon Turkey “engage in serious and intensive efforts for the resolution of outstanding disputes with all its neighbours, […] and including a frank and open discussion on past events”, a highly cataleptic reference to the Armenian genocide. The resolution also “calls on the Commission and the Council to address the opening of the Turkish border with Armenia with the authorities of those two countries”.

 

“The resolution would have been clearer if it clarified that among the three countries, only Azerbaijan is guilty of maintaining its refugees in an unacceptable state of misery, and that its leaders constantly threaten that they will restart war against Armenia. By citing Azerbaijan, the European Parliament would have been in accordance with other international organisations – Council of Europe, OSCE and UN – which have already denounced these Azeri leaders heinous crimes” indicated Laurent Leylekian.

 

“We are also disappointed by the paragraphs used to refer to the Armenian genocide. To abstain from clearly and freely mentioning the Armenian genocide perpetrated by Turkey, the European Parliament introduces in the core of Europe and in an unacceptable way the taboo established by Turkish denial”, declared Leylekian. “It is not by giving up its values that the European Union will support peace and stability in the South Caucasus region”, he concluded.