European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy President Kaspar Karampetian sent a letter to European Council President Donald Tusk regarding the latter’s visit to the South Caucasus on July 20-22, the Armenian Weekly reports.
Karampetian reminded Tusk of the European Union’s (EU) core values in dealing with authoritarian regimes, specifically in the case of Azerbaijan, recalling a 2014 resolution by the European Parliament that notes, “EU support for and cooperation with the Republic of Azerbaijan, including the ongoing negotiations for a Strategic Modernization Partnership, must be conditional on and include clauses relating to the protection and promotion of human rights.”
“During your visit to Azerbaijan on July 22, you stated that Azerbaijan is a reliable and strategic partner in the energy field; and spoke of moving EU-Azerbaijan relations forward through an ambitious new bilateral agreement, and of setting a brisk pace for the talks towards an Agreement on Strategic Partnership. The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy certainly welcomes the active role of the European Union in the region. EAFJD regrets, however, that with such statements the European Council is sending the wrong message to the people genuinely fighting for democratization and human rights in Azerbaijan and peace in the region. In a way, it is legitimizing the politics of repression and hate-filled war rhetoric of the current Azerbaijani government. It is also damaging the credibility of the European Union as an international actor in the region, turning calls for respect for human rights and peace into mere words, and showcasing that all this plays little role when it comes to cooperation,” Karampetian said.
“EAFJD sincerely hopes that by taking an adequate political stance in its current relations with Azerbaijan, the European Council stays true to the values the EU advocates, as well as its role as promoter of democracy in the region, and does not water down the demands expressed by the European Parliament, which is directly elected by more than 507 million EU citizens,” he said.
