Only weak souls are afraid of peace – MEP Loiseau comments on Baku's delay in signing peace agreement with Yerevan

The Member of the European Parliament Nathalie Loiseau expects the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan to be signed as soon as possible. In an interview with Armenpress, she expressed confidence that there is no reason to delay the signing.

Commenting on the finalization of negotiations on the full text of the draft Agreement on Peace and the Establishment of Interstate Relations, she emphasized the importance of its swift signing and stated that she looks forward to it.

 “I look forward to the early signing of the peace agreement reached by Armenia and Azerbaijan. The region and its inhabitants deserve peace and to see all their rights respected,” said the MEP.

Speaking about the possibility of signing an agreement aimed at normalizing Armenian-Azerbaijani relations under the conditions where the Azerbaijani side continues to put forward new preconditions, the member of the European Parliament stated that she sees no reason not to sign the agreement.

 “I see no reason to postpone the signing of a peace agreement which will bring relief and allow both countries to look at the future,’’ she said.

The MEP also expressed hope that Azerbaijan will focus on the well-being of its own citizens, and Armenia will finally feel safe from possible attacks.

“ I hope Azerbaijan will focus on the well-being of all its citizens and not on harassing a peaceful neighbor (ed. Armenia). I hope Armenia will feel safe from attacks at last,’’ Loiseau said.

Commenting on the fact that, after Armenia and Azerbaijan announced they had reached an agreement on a peace deal and concluded negotiations, Azerbaijan has periodically spread false rumors in recent days claiming that Armenian armed forces are allegedly firing at Azerbaijani positions in various parts of the border, the MEP stated, "Inflammatory rhetoric and false rumors must stop."

"The EUMA indicated that the situation at the border is normal. Peace requires as much courage as war. Only weak souls are afraid of peace,’’she concluded.

On March 13, the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan announced that negotiations on the peace treaty had been concluded.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has proposed to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to begin consultations on the time and venue for signing the agreement.

 However, Azerbaijan is setting preconditions for signing the treaty. In particular, Baku insists on the false claim that Armenia’s Constitution allegedly contains territorial claims against Azerbaijan, demanding constitutional amendments as a precondition for signing the agreement.

Another Azerbaijani precondition pertains to the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group.

In parallel with these preconditions, Azerbaijan has been spreading false claims for several days, alleging that Armenian armed forces have been firing at Azerbaijani positions along various sections of the border.