During an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am, First Ombudsman of Armenia, human rights activist Larisa Alaverdyan commented on the statement by Members of the European Parliament on construction of a new road connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh.

“The statement is complete failure of parliamentary diplomacy, including the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs. It was adopted upon the permission or consent of the Armenian side and poses a threat to Armenia’s national security. Either this is failure, if the Armenian side aspired to achieve something, but failed, or it is the logical result of the Armenian authorities’ tactics and strategy for international settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

I don’t think this is a result of incompetence. I have affirmed and affirm that the incumbent authorities have a strategy, but it absolutely contradicts the national security and interests of Armenia and Karabakh,” she said, noting that, in essence, Armenia’s authorities have adopted tactics of accord with the external adversary, and the adversary doesn’t conceal its pretensions over Armenia and Karabakh. “The statement is the European Parliament’s response to the policy of the Armenian authorities, and this has to be an eye-opener for the Armenian public. Such results attest to the fact that the country’s leadership is losing,” the human rights activist added. According to her, Azerbaijan has made attempts to advance such statements at the level of the European Parliament in the past as well, but there has always been a sharp response to Baku.

Members of the European Parliament have issued a sharp statement on the construction of a new road connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh, stating that the decision on construction was made in violation of the norms of international law.