MEP: Nagorno-Karabakh is a deep wound that cannot be forgotten

Alpha News interview with Member of the European Parliament from Lithuania Petras Auštrevičius

What do you think about the prospects for the development of relations between Armenia and the European Union?

Bilateral relations between Armenia and the EU have good potential for development. of course it depends on both sides, both sides have to see common understanding, what Armenia expects from us and what we can promise and deliver on agreed conditions. I think that Neighbourhood of EU has a certain potential for enlargement on a given conditions, because enlargement is not an easy highway, we see what is going on in Georgia, it is self inflicted damage and I would say complication, we reacted and took decision in fact de facto to stop the negotiations. From Armenia, me personally I expect clear political signals from Yerevan, how Yerevan sees its statehood in future. I need the clear political, not governmental, but political based strategy and we have to respond, Armenia has each and every possibility to become a full-fledged member of EU, but of course after some time, after negotiations, and some things accomplished but go forward, and we will respond, we must respond. South Caucasus security and geopolitics is important for the EU, you are not alone with this, so we have to expand hand of cooperation. In between we have to provide as much as possible support, definitely backing up peace agreement with Azerbaijan, which is not an easy at all at all accomplishment for both, knowing hostility and history. But we have to support peaceful settlement and we have to support security of Armenia.

Do you think that EU can guarantee security 

I doubt, we can do probably in a way supporting you financially by european peace facility some things which are needed to defend sovereignity but I would not rely on EU as a guarantor, I think it would be very complicated issue. EU guarantee security, sovereighnity and integrety for its own members by discription, by treaty. but for third countries, I think only through some bilateral agreements support partnership, engagement, which is I would not say nothing, it means a lot, because Armenia needs a lot of practical things, political dialog, but by these we will demonstrate that Armenia is a part of our zone of influence, in a good sense of this word, as our friend and partner, who we see as a valuable partner in future and it will indicate clearly for anyone in the future who want to challenge Armenia’s statehood for security in a very clear way: dont do it, because our response will be even more.

Like what?

Azerbaijan if to speak frankly depends on EU, gas, oil.

More than 70% of it has Russian nature 

I will send a very clear message, what fon der Lyaen said

She said Dirty fossil fuel of Russia? It is still coming through Azerbaijan…

Yeah, but my point is: Russia thought in 2022 that Russia can blackmail EU, 40% of gas at that time and even more, pipelines, infrastructure, such a dependancy, and they thought it will stop us from supporting Ukraine, it will bring EU into energy disaster, jumping prices and uncertainty, cold, and what happened?

You received it through Azerbaijan…

Partly, partly, Azerbaijan is not a main supplier, it is a very minor supplier for European market. But suppliers should not overplay their importance, we can switch, we have a potential to switch. Today fon der Lyan said 50%   of electricity comes from the renewables and it is just the beginning, we will go away from fossil fuel, less and less, even those suppliers think that they can push us because of those should not think that way only, so EU has potential to switch. 

Is that correct that I hear as soon as EU will stop being depending on fossil fuel only then it can be just and change its policy with Azerbaijan, calling it a reliable partner?

I dont think then only. We have rather uneasy relations with Azerbaijan, how many resolutions have been adopted on human rights, democracy in Azerbaijan…

But still it did not change the policy…

No, it did not change the policy, but the message is clear: you are not a partner of love, it a partner of reality

It is more essential now?

Maybe, but we will continue our unconditional support of opposition, free media, society. If somebody thinks that now the situation in Azerbaijan is optimal, ideal, I dont think so, there is a space for improvement, but it is better to avoid mistake after mistake like now I see such a steady deterioration of relationship with France for example. I dont think it is the right response to the French support of Armenia. It is completely wrong. It is deadlock situation. It is not a solution, it is a creation of the problem. Let’s see how things will develop, it is not hopeless situation. Global dependancy is not just about energy and economy, it is a bit more, we are all depended on something.

Karabakh, nobody talks about ethnic cleansing, what happened there, the right of people to go back, do you think in a new Parliament initiatives in support of people

In our last resolution, it was very clear line about this, I dont see anything changing, the new Parliament we will start again producing reports and resolutions, urgencies. It will come back, I am sure. I dont see any reason to change policy line, injustice must be called injustice, crimes must be called crimes. I am sure in the incoming report on human rights and global report on security and foreign policy will be mentioning all time of these issues untill it is not solved. It is very deep wound, it is something, which cannot be forgotten. 

Domestic politics, dont you think there is political crisis in Armenia?

I dont very closely follow all these events, but Northern Empire does not sleep, it has very long hands and big influences. It will not volantarily leave. 

Dont you consider it might be a genuine desire of Armenians do not agree with the politics of this government? 

Might be, I agree, that opposition has the right to express itself, taxation and so on but…

Especially unhappy with the politics on NK

NK situation was fixed a year ago, let’s see how many hopes were created, what was the situation, in certain way it was issue increasing dependency on Russia, and strategically it was wrong.

Was there other choices for Armenians? 

It is a long conversation, my message is apart from this plurality and opinions, each and every moments the nation must see strategically, consider strategic threats and to understand what is what. The EU will be no a nanny for any country, we are not, we are a partner, we want to understand any state considerations, strategic consideration is an important element, once you leave that northern empire. My messages: dont overplay, consider it seriously.

You think considering the geopolitics and looking where Armenia is located in the map is possible to leave the zone of influence of Russia, while the existential threats are so high, which to say it truly Armenia is unimportant country as it has no oil and gas? 

Not over the night. Future of human beings will be decided not by the suppliers of fossil fuel…

But this future is still future, and not close

It is very close, I think this is much closer than we think, but it is only one mean of influence, there are more means, let’s understand a bigger picture. Big picture. Once Armenia will be ready to go forward for closer cooperation with the EU, you will have to make some domestic discussions. Don’t think everything will be given, something must be done by Armenia.