MEP calls for more EU aid to Armenian military

Member of the European Parliament François-Xavier Bellamy (France) has called for stronger EU support to Armenia.

“Unfortunately, the European Commission hasn’t been responding with the required determination to Azerbaijan’s conduct for a long time now,” the MEP told Armenpress when asked about Baku’s aggressive statements targeting the EU monitoring mission in Armenia. 

“But the European Parliament, on the contrary, has been very unambiguous and decisive, including a few weeks before COP29, when it adopted a resolution approved by the majority, condemning those threats. We demand swift and clear responsive steps, especially towards Azerbaijani diplomacy,” the MEP added. He recalled the infamous case when the Azerbaijani ambassador in Brussels threatened MEPs for visiting the border to inspect the monitoring mission.

“Isn’t Azerbaijan’s and especially Mr. Aliyev’s rhetoric obvious today? Which, by the way, does not intimidate us. For us, the main objective is for the European Commission to eventually act. And perhaps the main reason behind the passiveness of the Commission is to avoid the cancellation of the scandalous gas deal signed with the Baku regime,” the MEP said, emphasizing that Azerbaijan depends more on the EU than the other way around.

Calling for support to Armenia, he said, “I think Armenia is under attack today, because it is a democracy, and it is tied with the EU with its common civilizational legacy. This is not only a matter of credibility, but also security for the EU.”

“I believe that today, our duty, the EU’s duty must be not to make a deal with the Aliyev regime, but to work in a way that will make this regime, which is explicitly opressing fundamental rights both in its territory and beyond, get weaker, isolated, and eventually fall,” the MEP said.

François-Xavier Bellamy also commended the courage displayed by the Armenian people by initiating the petition calling for joining the EU. 

He said that the EU monitoring mission must continue its activities. “Furthermore, it is necessary to increase the assistance through the European Peace Facility, especially by providing weapons, equipment, transport and defensive devices to the Armenian Armed Forces. This would increase the country’s security and reflect Europe’s important geopolitical choice,” the MEP said.

Full interview available in Armenian.