In Baku, during a joint press conference with the President of Azerbaijan, European Council President Charles Michel said that the European Union is ready to play a constructive role as a mediator between Armenia and Azerbaijan, in addition to the efforts of the Minsk Group.
“We, of course, respect the role of the Minsk Group, but that does not mean that the EU cannot also provide certain experience, support, ideas to ensure the possibility of establishing lasting peace in the region, and encourage certain possible improvements, for more stability, more security,” said Charles Michel.
Charles Michel’s visit to Baku has ended; he arrived in Georgia yesterday.
The President of the European Council will participate today in the Batumi International Conference, during which a meeting of the leaders of the countries of the Eastern Partnership will take place.
It should be noted that the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, had arrived in Armenia on Saturday, 17 July, where during a joint press conference with him, Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan emphasized the 13 April statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, by which they call on the parties to resume high-level political dialogue under the auspices of the Co-Chairs at the earliest opportunity, with the aim of achieving a final, comprehensive and sustainable settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of principles well known to the parties.
“I have already publicly welcomed this statement on several occasions, emphasizing that Armenia is ready to resume negotiations, but Azerbaijan has given no response, and according to information received from unofficial sources, Azerbaijan intends to provoke new military clashes in Artsakh and on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, an expression of which we see today in the Nakhichevan section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border,” Pashinyan declared.
During a joint press conference with Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, President of the European Council Charles Michel stated that the European Union wants to be a very loyal, engaged partner for Armenia’s well-being, security and stability.
“Within this period, we have had the opportunity to talk about our bilateral relations. I convey a very strong message to you: we are by your side and we confirm once again the unprecedented provision of a 2.6 billion euro financial package to Armenia, in order to support the implementation of Armenia’s priorities,” said the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, who is in Yerevan on a regional visit, noting the need for infrastructure, digital, climate, transport sectors, and democratic reforms.
