Your trusted source

The worsening of relations between Europe and Azerbaijan should be used for the good of Armenia, political scientist Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan told a press conference today. 

The expert commented on yesterday’s approval by PACE Social Affairs Committee of Milica Markovic’s controversially named draft report ““The Intentional Deprivation of Access of Residents of Azerbaijani Border Territories  to Drinking Water” about Sarsang reservoir in Karabakh, as well as the approval on November 4 by PACE Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy of the draft report on Karabakh prepared by MP Robert Walter famous for his pro-Azerbaijani stance. The report’s name ‘Escalation of Violence in Nagorno Karabakh and Other Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan” provoked a scandal and attracted harsh criticism. 

‘During the discussion of two anti-Armenian reports in January during the plenary session of PACE,  Armenian diplomacy, the Armenian delegation to the PACE can use instruments that can help counter Azerbaijan’s anti-Armenian propaganda. We just need to move the discussion of the issue – to discuss it in the context of Europe-Azerbaijan relations and speak loudly about all problems existing in that country,” Melik-Shahnazaryan stressed.

According to him, it is necessary to show that such reports of PACE actually are not aimed at problem solution, instead they destroy the mechanisms that currently prevent the resumption of a large-scale war. We need to show that Azerbaijan’s hostile policy is directed not only against Armenia, but also the international community and the European values that the EU is struggling to keep”.

“It is necessary to create a large wave of debates against Azerbaijan. I think in this case the reports are likely to be rejected,” H. Melik-Shahnazaryan added.