European Parliament adopted a resolution on January 20, which is titled “On the need to resume negotiations on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, called the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan to reengage in the negotiations in order to find the final solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

It is worth noting that the first priority in the resolution of the European Parliament is to reflect EU’s position on supporting the territorial integrity and the inviolability of the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan and other Eastern partnership countries.

However, the resolution contains some unjust challenges for Azerbaijan, which stressed the importance of the determination of the political status of Nagorno-Karabakh and ensuring the security of the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh and their heritage in this region. 

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Leyla Abdullayeva also made comments on European Parliament resolution, in her outline to the media.

She said that some members of the European Parliament were not aware of the situation in the region. 

"We reiterate to the members of the European Parliament who are unfamiliar with this position that the President of Azerbaijan has sent the status issue to the dustbin of history, and as for the security of the Armenian population and heritage, the rights of all citizens in Azerbaijan, regardless of ethnicity or religion, are guaranteed by the Constitution of Azerbaijan; all historical and cultural monuments in Azerbaijan are protected at the state level," Abdullayeva said in a statement published by the ministry's press service.

She added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has sent a letter to the European Parliament to protest some principles of the resolution.

Further to clarification of the issues about the resolution and future talks on the arrangement of the NK conflict, co-founder of Topchubashov Centre, Baku based think tank Rusif Huseynov shared his comments with Eurasia Diary. The expert's main interests are socio-political developments, frozen conflicts, ethnic minorities, in post-Soviet countries, while his focus areas mainly cover Eastern Europe, Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia.

R.Huseynov pointed out that the West, which has been left out of the Karabakh process, both during and in the aftermath of the recent war, is trying to re-assert its position in the South Caucasus.

“Given the equivocal position of the European Union and some of its members toward Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as the inactivity of the Minsk Group throughout the recent years, Azerbaijan`s reluctance to accept the EU`s attempts to join the Karabakh negotiations is understandable,” he said.

“Decision-makers in Baku can rightfully be concerned that the involvement of another (or multiple) actors to the Karabakh process may cut off Azerbaijan`s gains, complicate and protract the conflict, by bringing undesirable-for-Baku topics, such as the political status of Nagorno-Karabakh,” he added.

As for in what direction the future talks on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict are to be held, Huseynov noted that both Armenia and Azerbaijan nowadays are interested in resolving some urgent issues.

“Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia may leave the current situation for some time, while two of the belligerent parties will heal their wounds, determine the state border, exchange POWs, etc,” he stressed.

According to his opinion, the most important item for the negotiations at this point could be the disarmament and abolition of the so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defence Army".

Responding to Paul Goble’s claim that Armenia wants status to be discussed because discussions could put leverage on Azerbaijan in some respects in favour of his interests, he said; “As I noted earlier, Azerbaijan (and to some extent Russia) is not willing to discuss any status for Karabakh at this moment. Therefore, this topic would be avoided; both Russia and Azerbaijan will try to reinforce their positions in Karabakh, with the latter paying more attention on mega-projects in the newly liberated territories. Because the reconstruction of ghost towns would provide a better argument for Azerbaijan in the future talks and attract the rest of Karabakh under its sovereignty”.

by Yunis Abdullayev