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The European Parliament will discuss and vote on a resolution on the “Situation in Azerbaijan, violation of human rights and international law and relations with Armenia” in the plenary session, Member of the European Parliament Costas Mavrides (Cyprus) told Armenpress Brussels correspondent Lilit Gasparyan in an interview.

Armenpress: Ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians, military aggression, war crimes. It seems that Azerbaijan has digested everything and today it dares to criticize the EU, the latter's relations and assistance to Armenia. The EU listens to these criticisms, sometimes-even threats, and states in response that it is ready to support the efforts aimed at the normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations. How do you imagine that support, which will really give a tangible result?

Costas Mavrides: To effectively support the efforts aimed at normalizing Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, the EU needs to take a stronger stance against the ethnic cleansing and military aggression perpetrated by Azerbaijan now against Armenia. The events in Nagorno-Karabakh, where the Aliyev regime has engaged in systematic policies aimed at the displacement and eradication of the indigenous Armenian population, constitutes a crime against humanity and demonstrates the failure of current approaches. Regarding the current situation, the EU's response should not merely be about mediation but must also include the demand for full respect of Armenia's sovereignty, while holding Azerbaijan accountable if its aggression is not terminated.

The European Parliament's resolution condemning the ethnic cleansing of Armenians is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done. The means used by the EU to punish Putin, should not benefit another criminal, Aliyev. The EU should reassess its relationship with Azerbaijan, particularly in light of its ongoing human rights violations. This could involve reconsidering trade agreements or partnerships, especially those that are critical to Azerbaijan, such as energy cooperation. If the EU truly values human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, it must demonstrate that these principles outweigh short-term economic interests.

Imposing targeted sanctions on Azerbaijani officials responsible for war crimes, freezing assets, restricting travel, and suspending certain economic agreements would send a clear message that Europe does not tolerate such actions. Moreover, substantial EU support for Armenia, including economic assistance and security guarantees, could help balance the power dynamics in the region and facilitate a more genuine dialogue for peace.