Twenty-nine Members of the European Parliament from 7 main political factions have addressed Vice-President of the European Parliament, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell with a letter regarding the tension on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

This is the initiative of Cypriot member of S&D Costas Mavrides.

In their letter, the Members of the European Parliament stress that the European Union must use its leverages to put into action real and effective confidence-building measures in the region and call on the Azerbaijani authorities to apply the OSCE’s mechanism for investigation of ceasefire violations. The Members of Parliament also recall that Armenia has already agreed to consider the details of application of the mechanism and emphasize that Azerbaijan must also consider the details.

The Members of the European Parliament reiterate their support to the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group and the fundamental principles of 2009, including the right of nations to self-determination. They also express their deep concern about hate speech and the war rhetoric and call on the European Union to take actions against those phenomena. The Members of the European Parliament stress that there can’t be a military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

In regard to the letter, Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of Europe Kaspar Garabedian said the following: “Instead of threatening with war and becoming a reason for human casualties and suffering on both sides, Azerbaijan has to pay heed to the request of the Members of the European Parliament and finally apply confidence-building measures, particularly the OSCE’s mechanism for investigation of ceasefire violations. The Armenian National Committee of Europe welcomes the MPs’ call to fight against hate speech, particularly Armenophobia, which is encouraged at the state level in Azerbaijan. One of the main goals of the Armenian National Committee of Europe is to condemn and speak out about this dangerous policy that has intoxicated an entire generation of people in Azerbaijan and has actually posed a great risk for a peaceful settlement of the conflict.”