Thursday, March 28 2024 11:14

ArmInfo.The high-level meeting of President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen,  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan scheduled for April 5 in Brussels is dedicated to strengthening of the Armenia-EU-US cooperation and is  not and could not be directed against any third party, Ani Badalyan, Spokesperson for the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated in an interview with Armenpress. 

As for Azerbaijan's accusations of destabilizing the situation in the  region and the non-constructiveness of the Armenian side in the  negotiation process, let me reaffirm that Armenia is ready for the  immediate signing of the peace treaty, the border delimitation, and  opening of regional communications based on the principles already  agreed upon with Azerbaijan. We are speaking about the following  three principles:

a) Armenia and Azerbaijan mutually recognize each other's sovereignty  and territorial integrity based on the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration.  This principle was agreed upon between Armenia and Azerbaijan on  October 6, 2022, in Prague, with the mediation of Emmanuel Macron,  President of France, and Charles Michel, President of the EU Council,   then reiterated on May 14 and July 15, 2023, in Brussels with the  mediation of Charles Michel, President of the EU Council.

b) The delimitation and demarcation process between the two countries  is carried out based on the Alma- Ata Declaration. This principle was  agreed upon between Armenia and Azerbaijan on October 6, 2022, in  Prague, with the mediation of French President Emmanuel Macron and EU  Council President Charles Michel, then reaffirmed on May 14 and July  15, 2023, in Brussels with the mediation of President of the EU  Council Charles Michel. This means that instead of creating a new  border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the borders that existed de  jure within the USSR at the time of the adoption of the 1991 Alma-  Ata Declaration should be replicated on the ground. Afterwards, the  territories de jure belonging to each country must be under that  country's control.

c) Unblocking regional communications, respecting the sovereignty and  the jurisdiction of the countries through which they pass, based on  the principle of equality and reciprocity. This principle was agreed  upon between Armenia and Azerbaijan on July 15, 2023, in Brussels  with the mediation of President of the EU Council Charles Michel.  Regarding this issue, the Republic of Armenia has expressed its  willingness by developing the "Crossroads of Peace" project, which  has been widely welcomed by the international community. 

Unfortunately, the Azerbaijani side is delaying and undermining the  peace process under various artificial pretexts, including  continuously rejecting mediation proposals made by the EU and the US.  Instead of complaining about inclusiveness, Azerbaijan could  eventually accept the proposals to meet at the level of Foreign  Ministers in Washington D.C., and at the level of heads of state in  Brussels. Perhaps it would be also relevant to mention the continuous  actions by Azerbaijan, the efforts towards excluding Armenia from  regional projects, undermining the principle of inclusiveness in  every possible way, a vivid example of which is reflected in  hindering Armenia's participation in the Black Sea Submarine Cable  project.

As to Azerbaijan's complains regarding the EU Monitoring Mission in  Armenia, Ms Badalyan said:

It is important to assess the security situation under which the  deployment of the EU mission was carried out. It followed the  large-scale attack and occupation of the sovereign territory of the  Republic of Armenia by Azerbaijan in September 2022. Even today,  around 208 square kilometers of the sovereign territory of the  Republic of Armenia is under the Azerbaijani occupation. We highly  appreciate the role of the EU Monitoring Mission in the context of  deterring the intentions to use force in the region and strengthening  stability on the Armenia-Azerbaijan interstate border. We also  welcome the decision made by the EU months ago regarding the increase  in the number of the Mission's staff. It is also appropriate to  remind that at the quadrilateral meeting held in Prague on October 6,  2022, Azerbaijan itself welcomed the proposal made by the President  of the EU Council and the President of France to deploy an EU  Monitoring Mission not only in Armenia but also in Azerbaijan.  Unfortunately, Azerbaijan later abandoned that position.

As to the Armenian side's expectations about the Armenia-US-EU  high-level meeting scheduled for April 5, Ms Badalyan said: 

The meeting provides a valuable opportunity to discuss the  Armenia-US, and Armenia-EU bilateral agendas, as well as issues on  the Armenia-US-EU cooperation. We anticipate having substantive  discussions on the political dialogue, the development of Armenia's  economic and energy capacities, as well as addressing humanitarian  issues that Armenia is facing. The high-level meeting is aimed at  developing and deepening our existing relations and is not connected  with relations with third countries.  Any allegations about it being  directed against anyone else are irrelevant, baseless and fictitious.