EU engagement in South Caucasus important for normalizing Armenia - Azerbaijan relations – Kaja Kallas

The EU’s engagement in the South Caucasus remains important for promoting peace, stability, and prosperity through regional cooperation, including in the context of the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

 According to the official website of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas made this statement in response to written questions from Emmanouil Fragkos, a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group.

Fragkos inquired whether, during Kallas’ meeting with Jeyhun Bayramov, the Foreign Minister of the Aliyev regime, commitments were made regarding the release of more than 320 political prisoners, the repatriation of Armenian hostages, and guarantees for the dignified return of Artsakh Armenians in accordance with legally binding rulings of the International Court of Justice.

He also questioned why “the EU cannot abandon a soft policy when dealing with authoritarian states like Azerbaijan.”

Kallas emphasized that human rights and the rule of law in Azerbaijan remain priorities for the EU and form the foundation of EU-Azerbaijan bilateral relations.

“The EU has called on the Azerbaijani authorities to ensure that their actions comply with their obligations under both domestic and international law. The EU has expressed concern over the increase in arrests of journalists, human rights defenders, and political activists in Azerbaijan. In this context, the EU has consistently called for the release of all individuals detained for exercising their fundamental rights. These messages have been conveyed publicly and bilaterally at all levels, including by the High Representative/Vice-President,” Kallas responded in writing.

She welcomed the finalization of negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan on a bilateral peace treaty and urged both sides to maintain the momentum and ensure a smooth conclusion to the process. Kallas noted that the EU's engagement in the South Caucasus is especially important in the context of normalizing relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

On October 24, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on “the situation in Azerbaijan, violations of human rights and international law, and relations with Armenia,” in which MEPs unilaterally rejected the idea of business-as-usual with the Aliyev regime.