Nagorno-Karabach

Last week, together with several colleagues from @RenewEurope, I asked priority questions to Josep Borrell, Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on the alarming situation in Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Tomorrow’s debates in the European Parliament will include a discussion with Borrell on the growing hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan. For that reason, I would like to shed some light on the conflict.

A territorial dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia has re-erupted with heavy military clashes in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The Turkish president Erdogan has clearly indicated his support for Azerbaijan by offering help with ‘whatever means’. Recent reports of alleged Turkish military interference are furthermore alarming because we have seen this modus operandi before in Libya and Syria. The civilians, in the meantime, pay the terrible prize.

The international community has so far responded by urging for an immediate cease-fire and peace talks. The Russian Federation has called for a ceasefire and de-escalation talks and tries, via the OCSE Minsk Group, to mediate. American President Trump said that the US was seeking to stop the violence. France called for a ceasefire as well as diplomatic dialogue. Neighbouring country Iran has offered to broker peace talks.

The European Council already called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged all parties to recommit to a lasting ceasefire and peaceful settlement of the conflict. They also called on Borrell to take action. Therefore, I want Borrell to explain his next steps. The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh requires a strong response of the European Union! For that reason, I will reiterate my questions to HR/VP Borrell to provide clarity on the alleged Turkish military interference during the debate this week.

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  Malik Azmani (1976) is sinds 2 juli 2019 lid van het Europees Parlement voor de VVD, waarvoor hij lijsttrekker was. Hij maakt deel uit van de fractie Renew Europe. De heer Azmani was van 17 juni 2010 tot 7 juni 2019 Tweede Kamerlid voor de VVD. Hij werkte als procesvertegenwoordiger bij de IND in Zwolle en was lid van de directie van de IND in Rijswijk. Hij was gemeenteraadslid in Ommen van 2010 tot 2014. Van 2013 tot 2016 was hij tevens lid van de Parlementaire Assemblee van de Raad van Europa. De heer Azmani was als Kamerlid onder meer woordvoerder asiel, migratie. In 2014-2018 was hij voorzitter van de vaste commissie voor Europese Zaken. In het Europees Parlement houdt hij zich bezig met justitie en veiligheid, migratie en buitenlandse zaken.