European Parliament Approves South Caucasus Strategy for EU
On May 20, 2010 the European Parliament voted to pass a resolution on ‘an EU strategy for the South Caucasus’. The resolution, which contains a section dedicated to Nagorno Karabakh (NK), had been approved by the EU Foreign Affairs Committee in April 2010.
AGBU Europe supported the European Parliament’s interest in the region and campaigned for the resolution to be more fair and balanced towards NK. The Parliament voted in favour of EU engagement in, and development aid to NK and conflict resolution there, recommending a series of confidence building measures.
The resolution was successfully amended by MEPs to "ensure the security of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh" in the event of an Armenian withdrawal from the surrounding territories. However, several MEPs criticised paragraphs 8 and 10, which call for Armenia to surrender those territories. This is likely to be interpreted by groups seeking to disrupt the already fragile peace process as a challenge to the approach of the Minsk Group negotiators. The Minsk Group considers the disputed territory as part of a package of issues which must be negotiated jointly.
This apparent contradiction was highlighted during the debate by a number of MEPs including Dr Charles Tannock (Conservatives and Reformists Group Coordinator) and was acknowledged as an "important point" by Mr Štefan Füle, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement. These criticisms also reflected the mood in Armenia, where the Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandyan and much of the media were very critical over what is perceived as an attempt to undermine a fragile peace process.
Many other issues concerning NK were discussed during the debate. In a clear reference to Azerbaijan, Ulrike Lunacek, MEP was critical of increased military spending in the region. Rapporteurs Mr Yevgeni Kirilov, MEP and Mr Metin Kazak, MEP, for their part, emphasised the importance of energy supplies and territorial integrity.
In response, Mr Graham Watson, MEP, cautioned on the dangers of viewing EU relations "purely through the prism of our need for oil and gas" and Mr Krzystof Lisek, MEP, said that "the EU must acknowledge the right of every nation to self-determination, to shape their own future." Rejecting what he described as "a one-sided position in favour of one side", Mr Dimitar Stoyanov, MEP, recommended a "flexible approach" to the disputed territories "that would reflect the viewpoints of everybody because the conflict will never be solved in this [one-sided] way."
Much of the debate preceding the vote concerned NK. The resolution passed with a comfortable majority, and encourages the European Commission to step up its engagement in the region.
Present in Yerevan at the time of the vote, AGBU Europe President Alexis Govciyan and board member Nicolas Tavitian had an opportunity to communicate with the press and the Armenian public the organisation’s objectives and the place of significance of the Parliament’s resolution.
Following the final adoption of this resolution, AGBU Europe continue their campaign, aimed at the EU Council and Commission as well as to the Parliament for the EU to engage in NK, assist its population and contribute to reducing tensions and promoting contacts between Karabakh and Azerbaijan.
Armen Michael Nazarian
