Politics

I heard statements at meetings in Baku that differ from speeches. Grono

It is essential for the European Union that the settlement process between Armenia and Azerbaijan continues in a calm and positive environment, building on the achievements and successes in various formats and, recently, on the bilateral level.

Magdalena Grono, the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, said this in an interview with an Armenpress correspondent in Brussels.

The EU Special Representative emphasized that during her recent meetings in Baku, she heard statements from Azerbaijani officials regarding peace and stability in the South Caucasus that differ from their public statements. Speaking about her meetings in Armenia, Grono emphasized that the Armenian authorities have a forward-looking approach and are willing to turn the page on hostility and establish a stable and peaceful environment.

In the interview, Grono also touched upon the accusations and criticisms voiced by Azerbaijan against the EU Monitoring Mission in Armenia, the EU's actions in the settlement process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the issue of unblocking communications in the South Caucasus.

-Ms. Grono, during your visit on January 8, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev again threatened Armenia, questioning the possibility of establishing peace in the South Caucasus. Did you address these threats during your meeting, and do you think peace in the South Caucasus is possible when the Azerbaijani leadership regularly threatens Armenia and makes unfounded territorial claims?

-You are addressing the context in which my visit to Azerbaijan occurred. The issues of public rhetoric, preparing the population for a peaceful future, addressing threats, and reducing their perception, including public reconciliation efforts and positive rhetoric aimed at peace, were discussed during my meetings in Azerbaijan. It is essential for the EU that the settlement process between Armenia and Azerbaijan continues in a calm and positive environment, building on achievements and successes in various formats, including recently at the bilateral level. During the discussions in Baku, I heard encouraging statements about peace and stability in the region. They often differed from what we have heard in the public domain, particularly regarding the continuation of the settlement process between the two countries. The first critical stage of settlement is already yielding results. Azerbaijan and Armenia have a regulated dialogue format with a clear, jointly agreed basis and framework. Now is the time to demonstrate the political will needed to finally turn the page on the conflict, find mutually acceptable solutions to all outstanding issues, and ensure a peaceful and more prosperous life for all region residents.

-The Azerbaijani President demands that Armenia stop acquiring weapons while he is rapidly arming his country. At the same time, the Azerbaijani leadership continues to spread false allegations that the Armenian Constitution allegedly contains territorial claims to Azerbaijan, and the rhetoric about the so-called "Zangezur corridor" does not stop. Do you have the impression that Baku is preparing a new attack on Armenia, and how credible do you consider Azerbaijan's statements about the pursuit of peace?

-All my interlocutors in Baku expressed the view that "the conflict has been resolved," "the situation has stabilized," that "there is no intention to use force," and that the settlement process should continue in all directions. I want to note again that what I heard during the meetings differed significantly from what we sometimes hear in the public domain. The 11th meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani border commissions took place as scheduled on January 16. I want to welcome and appreciate the ongoing exchange of views between the parties on future demarcation work and the agreement to continue the work on the specific demarcation from north to south. This is a very positive signal. I hope similar progress will be ensured in other areas, be it the draft peace treaty, the restoration of ties and the reopening of communication routes, or humanitarian issues. We indeed call on both sides to commit to progress and warn of the negative impact of certain counter-trends.

-Azerbaijan has repeatedly threatened the EU Monitoring Mission in Armenia while spreading false allegations that the EU mission is engaged in espionage against Azerbaijan. How do you respond to these accusations, and have you raised this issue during your meetings with Azerbaijani officials?

-My interlocutors in Baku also voiced Azerbaijan's views on the EU mission in Armenia. We always pay close attention. We listen to any criticism or differing views and try to understand what grievances there may be and what may be hidden behind them. We strive to clarify possible misunderstandings but are equally consistent in refuting disinformation. This also applies to the criticism we hear about the activities of the EU Mission in Armenia. As for perceptions, I have made it clear during the meetings that the EU does not intend to create new dividing lines, engage in "zero-sum games," or promote a "hidden agenda" in the region. The EU Mission in Armenia was deployed based on a sovereign request from the Armenian authorities. The EU has informed the Azerbaijani authorities of all process stages: before, during, and after the deployment. Given the sensitivity of the presence of a third party on the ground and the long history of the conflict, I assured all interlocutors that we approach our role with the utmost responsibility. Therefore, we reaffirm that all allegations of "espionage activities" or "destabilizing objectives" are disinformation and do not correspond to the mandate and objectives set for the mission or its actions. The EU mission in Armenia is and will remain an exclusively civilian, unarmed mission.

-As part of your regional visits, you also visited Armenia, where you met with several high-ranking officials. How do you assess the results of your visit? What is your impression of the steps taken by the Armenian government to achieve peace in the South Caucasus?

-Yes, after the meetings in Baku, I was also received at a high level in Yerevan, particularly by Prime Minister Pashinyan and several key government representatives. As in Azerbaijan, I met with representatives of civil society here. These visits were rich, meaningful, and encouraging. In Yerevan, I expressed our clear support for the ongoing reforms and the bold steps taken within the framework of the normalization process with Azerbaijan. Despite the ups and downs of the process, the Armenian authorities have a forward-looking approach, with an apparent willingness to turn the page on hostility and establish a stable and peaceful environment. Critics would say that more could have been done, and we want to see more progress soon. At the same time, if we had assessed the work's progress, the negotiations' structural framework, and the overall dynamics of bilateral relations, this would have seemed incredible a few years ago.

-What practical steps is the European Union ready to take to achieve peace in the South Caucasus, taking into account Azerbaijan's actions to delay the process artificially and threats against Armenia?

-In recent years, the EU has been actively normalizing Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, notably through the Leaders' Meetings in Brussels, hosted by former European Council President Charles Michel. In addition to other international efforts, this platform allowed the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to move forward with a structured agenda. In 2023, Following the joint Armenian-Azerbaijani statement of December 7, when the parties agreed to hold the COP29 conference and exchange prisoners, Armenia and Azerbaijan indicated that they would continue discussions on implementing confidence-building measures and called on the international community to support their efforts. In this context, my recent visits to Azerbaijan and Armenia took place. Together with Baku and Yerevan, we discussed how the EU could be more helpful in normalizing Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and expanding regional cooperation. We have identified several areas at this stage, considering that the EU is also ready to do more. In Baku and Yerevan, we agreed that the EU will continue to support the Armenian-Azerbaijani bilateral negotiations, focus on specific aspects of connectivity and humanitarian issues, particularly on demining and resolving the problem of missing persons, and promote regional cooperation initiatives.

- Armenia has proposed the "Crossroads of Peace" project to unblock regional communications. Are you familiar with this project, and how do you assess it?

-I am familiar with the "Crossroads of Peace" project proposed by Armenia since 2023. No one disputes its general framework and fundamental principles. However, the parties must still agree on the details and practical issues. This is a valuable and interesting framework to show what a future peaceful South Caucasus could look like. As a first step, I am hopeful that Armenia and Azerbaijan will be able to reach an agreement shortly on the demarcation of the western regions of Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan and will also open up communication channels that will connect Armenia to the broader region. In addition to my discussions in the area, the statements made in Yerevan and Baku since the leaders' meeting in Kazan on October 24 give reason to believe that an agreement is possible, and we stand ready to continue to support the parties in achieving that goal.