YEREVAN. - The fact that Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel had a meeting with Armenia’s president, but not with the head of Azerbaijan’s delegation, speaks for the tense relations between Berlin and Baku, Armenian political analyst Stepan Safaryan told Armenian News – NEWS.am, commenting on the outcomes of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga.

According to him, it’s necessary to keep in mind that the relations between Germany and Azerbaijan have been tense for not less than a year. Azerbaijan has a few times accused Germany of interfering in its domestic affairs, specifically after the discussion held in Berlin on the condition of human rights. Besides, Azerbaijan is dissatisfied with the critical statements made by the Berlin-based European Council of Foreign Relations (ECFR) on the same subject.  

Baku accuses this organization of its contribution to the Armenian lobby. “Expert circles do remember Baku’s reaction over the German side’s statements on human rights violations in Azerbaijan. The latter reacted roughly to this and even removed German companies from oil tenders. In short, Germany and Azerbaijan never enjoyed good relations, which became even tenser in Riga. Europe realizes that Azerbaijan’s conduct is based on boycott and blackmail. And an influential country like Germany can with indirect steps make parties understand things quite directly,” Safaryan said.