Azerbaijan-Europe Deteriorating Relations: What is the Reason?

• 09.17.2015, 20:54
• Greta Avetisyan
•  Europe,  Region,  "Insight" Analytical Center ,  World,  Armenia,  Analytics

A new stage in the EU-Azerbaijan relations seems to be starting. This was marked by the adoption of a resolution on Azerbaijan by the European Parliament. It was the first adequate response of Europe on the so many years of unruly behavior of Azerbaijan. Now, it is not so important what the reason for such a resolution was – whether Europe understood that it has given so many privileges to Azerbaijan that it can already be dangerous for Europe itself or Europe at last decided to defend the justice – the most important thing is that it is a fact. This is what brought Azerbaijan into reality, but it was so unexpected for it that the Azerbaijani authorities immediately started taking actions, which not in the short, but in the long term perspective will have its bad consequences for the country.

"The role of the Armenian lobby is also visible here… Some anti-Azerbaijan group has emerged in Europe, within the European Parliament. This group is doing all it can to belittle Azerbaijan’s image. Personally as a president, this resolution is no more than a piece of paper to me," this is how , as apa.az reports, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev commented on the Resolution of the European Parliament not forgetting to blame Armenians for everything and once more stressing his Armenophobia. For the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov this was the "red line" that Europe crossed, threatening the latter with non-adequate response.

Of course, these are not the only responses to the resolution. Condemnations came from different levels and by a wide range of people. However, their content was the same – all of them called the resolution "biased and based on lies." Azerbaijan, however, did not end up with only announcements or accusations. It made several decisions, which may drastically change the course of the foreign policy of Azerbaijan.

After adoption of the resolution by the European Parliament on September 10, Mili Mejlis, in its turn, on September 15 adopted an answer resolution to the European Parliament. With the adopted resolution Azerbaijan terminates its membership in the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, as well as to put an end to participation in the Parliamentary Cooperation Committee EU-Azerbaijan in the current format. Moreover, the resolution "recommends the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan to reconsider the usefulness of the participation in the Eastern Partnership of the European Union," as well as "to consider banning the entry to Azerbaijan the members of the European Parliament and officials of the EU institutions, demonstrating the extremely anti-Azerbaijani position in the case of the application of any sanctions against the officials of the Republic of Azerbaijan," apa.az writes. Azerbaijan also intends to reconsider its relations with the EU.

What was the content of the EP resolution that made Azerbaijan furious, as a result of which it made several hasty decisions?

Expressing its concerns over the deteriorationg human rights situation in the country, the European Parliament called Azerbaijan to "immediately and unconditionally release from jail of all political prisoners." It also called  Azerbaijan "to respect and implement its commitments undertaken as a member of the Council of Europe" and "to comply with all rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) concerning Azerbaijan."

The resolution of the EP also touches upon a question quite important for Armenia. It "deplores the continued actions taken by the Azerbaijani government to curb contacts between civil society groups, youth activists and intellectuals in Armenia and Azerbaijan, which are of extreme importance for bridging the long hostility between the two countries." This is what Armenia has been talking about for so many years – without confidence-building between the two societies it is impossible to talk about the final resolution of Karabakh conflict. However, Azerbaijan has always hindered such attempts of the Armenian sides, constantly using its war rhetoric and inciting hatred in the Azerbaijani society towards Armenians. Leyla and Arif Yunus are vivid examples of Azerbaijan’s such policy. They are arrested because of having contacts with Armenians – they were engaged in peace-building activities – and are "labeled" by the Azerbaijani authorities as traitors.

It is also noteworthy that the EP "calls on the Council to avoid double standards in relation to the EaP countries, and to consider, in this regard, targeted sanctions and visa bans on all politicians, officials and judges involved in the political persecutions." Imposing sanctions on those people mentioned in the resolution is important in the sense that besides being condemned and criticized, Azerbaijan now saw that can also be "punished" for its wrongdoings, which gives a hope that Azerbaijan will become more cautious with its actions.

This resolution shows that it is quite obvious for Europe who is destabilizing the situation over Karabakh conflict. Though not mentioned word for word, the context of the text indicates the one, which is not ready for dialogue, for constructive steps and for stabilization of the situation on NKR-Azerbaijan, Armenia-Azerbaijan borders. It remains only to hope that this kind of resolutions will keep Azerbaijan at least sober. As for towards what direction the vector of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy will go after the deteriorated relations with Europe, is not difficult to guess. Taking into consideration the tense relations between the West and Russia, Azerbaijan will try to more closely cooperate with Russia. In such a situation, Armenia has to undertake certain steps, so as our friendly and strategically important relations with Russia are not put under danger.