This Infoclip illustrates the MEPs debate with Josep Borrell Fontelles, EC High Representative and Vice-President, on the resumption of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan during the plenary session (5-8 October 2020) of the European Parliament in Brussels,

Brussels

debate

plenary session

EU - Azerbaijan (T)

EU - Armenia (T)

FOTYGA, Anna (ECR, PL)

KOVATCHEV, Andrey (EPP, BG)

PICULA, Tonino (S&D, HR)

BORRELL FONTELLES, Josep (PSE, ES, EC)

VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL, Viola (Greens/EFA, DE)

Resumption of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan in relation to Nagorno-Karabakh enclave: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Joseph BORRELL FONTELLES, EC High representative and Vice-President, Our position is clear. Fighting must stop. Both sides need to engage in meaningful negotiation, which, by the way, had been not very much for us for the last 30 years without preconditions under the auspices of the OSCE means group co-chairs. There cannot be a military solution to the conflict, no less an external inter interference.

SOUNDBITE (English), Joseph BORRELL FONTELLES, EC High representative and Vice-President, On the 13th of September, I discussed the situation with the Russian foreign minister, I also spoke with the Turkish foreign minister -the two regional actors which are closer to the conflict. I emphasise the importance of the escalating.

SOUNDBITE (English), Joseph BORRELL FONTELLES, EC High representative and Vice-President, I spoke to the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan during the weekend initiative and I stressed that the increase of civilian casualties is unacceptable. I knew from both sides and the actions taken by the other side: each one of them blames the other for starting an attack to civilian population from the territory, not in the Nagorno-Karabakh itself, not the region in dispute, but from Armenia to Azerbaijan and to Azerbaijan to Armenia.

SOUNDBITE (English), Andrey KOVATCHEV (EPP, BG), The conflict has been surrounded by various claims, as you mentioned, according to Amnesty International even cluster bombs has been used in the conflict. This need to be also clarified and investigated. Also, the involvement of third party, even people from Syrian fighters going through Turkey to the conflict area need also to be investigated.

SOUNDBITE (English), Tonino PICULA (S&amp;D, HR), There is no other path to solving the conflict than to return to the negotiating table under the chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group. The principles of the UN Charter, OSCE Helsinki Final Act and the 2009 Basic Principles continue to be guiding principles for the solution to this conflict.

SOUNDBITE (English), Tonino PICULA (S&amp;D, HR), Seems that many, if not most, of our foreign policy challenges at external borders have Turkey as a common denominator and cause. Latest actions are yet another please sign of Ankara's departure from EU values and international law standards.

SOUNDBITE (German), Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL (Greens/EFA, DE), The only group that are profiting from these negotiations is the international military observers, they are looking with great interest towards Nagorno-Karabakh, where high technology weapons are being used for the first time.

SOUNDBITE (German), Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL (Greens/EFA, DE), First of all, we need to get France, the United States and Russia continuing to negotiate. And we should be in favour of the Armenians. We should make sure that NATO partner, Turkey, should not put extra oil on the fire, and we should make sure that humanitarian aid is provided to the civilians there.

SOUNDBITE (English), Anna FOTYGA (ECR, PL), Azerbaijan has Turskish baking.The problem is that conflict concerns, this time, different part of Southern Caucasus with key routes of oil pipelines, gas pipelines, roads, rail and fibre optics leading outside of Russian influence to Europe, amongst others. So we have to have a look on this and we have to see whole broad picture.