Europe Plus

The EU is very concerned at the latest clashes in Nagorno-Karabakh, calling in a statement on both sides to immediately respect the ceasefire and refrain from the use of force.

“We are very concerned by the latest armed incidents which caused a number of casualties along the Line of Contact and the Armenian-Azerbaijani State border in recent days,” said the statement from the spokesperson of the EU External Action service, issued on 3 August.

“We call on both sides to immediately respect the ceasefire, refrain from the use of force or any threat thereof, and continue efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.”

The statement recalled that the EU was ready to engage in renewed efforts towards a political settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and to further contribute to peace-building efforts, in full complementarity with the OSCE Minsk Group.

The EU has expressed serious concern at the arrest of a leading human rights defender in Azerbaijan, and pointing to “a wider picture of mounting restrictions targeting civil society in Azerbaijan”.

A
statement issued on 2 August by the Spokespersons of the EU High
Representative and of the Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy said: “We
are very concerned that Dr Leyla Yunus, leader of a respected NGO, the
Institute for Peace and Democracy in Azerbaijan, and a prominent human
rights defender, has been arrested, charged with serious crimes
including high treason, and sentenced to pre-trial detention on 30 July
2014.”

“The
arrest of Dr Yunus seems to be part of a wider picture of mounting
restrictions targeting civil society in Azerbaijan. The EU has
repeatedly made its serious concerns known to the Azerbaijan government,
both in public and in private,” the statement added.

It went on to say the EU valued its relationship with Azerbaijan, but warned: “This
relationship cannot achieve its full potential unless Azerbaijan fully
respects its international commitments including those deriving from its
membership of the Council of Europe, where Azerbaijan currently chairs
the Committee of Ministers.”