“Baku remains an EU partner,” Charles Michel, the European Council President said in his interview with Euronews, Ednews reports.
"Azerbaijan is a partner today, yes, it’s a partner. That doesn’t mean the relationship is simple. No, it’s not simple. Are there difficulties? Yes, and these difficulties are real and should be understood," he explains.
Charles Michel also denied the accusation that the European Union turned a blind eye to the local anti-terrorist measures carried out by Azerbaijan in Garabagh: "I understand the argument, but it’s not correct," Michel said. "We showed Europe's ability to very quickly diversify energy supplies following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and therefore we now have many options in terms of energy supplies."
When asked if the EU should reconsider its gas deal with Baku, Michel said: "Of course. What we now need to look at is how to normalize the relationship between Armenia and Azerbaijan so that we can firmly and incontestably ensure the mutual recognition of the territorial integrity of both countries."
"We will encourage a normalization process that can lead to commitments on both sides to respect the promises they have made. And the absolute priority is to ensure that there are negotiations on territorial borders," he explained.
"It is the European mediation process that secured progress in this regard, on a peace treaty to normalize the relationship and also on what we call connectivity, that is, the possibility for the populations of both Armenia and Azerbaijan to be able to move in the region."
The European Council President condemned Russia's peacekeeping forces, present in Garabagh since a peace deal was brokered by Moscow in 2020, for standing aside as Baku launched its anti-terrorist measures.
"It is clear for everyone to see that Russia has betrayed the Armenian people."
"Russia wanted to have soldiers on the ground to guarantee this peace and security agreement. However, we see that the military operation was launched without the slightest reaction from the Russian peacekeeping forces in the territory. The European Union, on the other hand, had no force or military presence on the ground," he added.
