EU’s shocking immorality

ANALYTICS  18 November 2023 - 15:25

The demands voiced by EU’s lead spokesperson for foreign affairs and security Peter Stano, in an interview with the Armenian media make us smile. Prior to moving on to the analysis of the absurd statements that came from the lips of the Slovak and European diplomat, let me remind you of the statement made by Gevorg Kostanyan in November 2020 - Armenia’s former Prosecutor-General and former representative to the ECHR.

At that point, speaking hot on the heels of the 44-day war and the Tripartite Declaration signed as a result, he pointed out that Armenia would have to pay Azerbaijan over $50 billion.

“In conformity with this document, we not only lost territories but also an obligation was imposed on Armenia in the amount of more than 50 billion dollars, for which we and our generations will pay.”

True, Azerbaijan has the right to demand those tens of billions and not only them. Armenia must also pay for missile strikes on Barda, Ganja, and Tartar. But even then, it was clear that Armenia would try to do everything possible so as not to pay the bills for all the monstrous crimes against Azerbaijan. It was also clear that she would rely on her Western patrons.

So, what are we having now? We have a picture that is striking in its immorality. Armenia, which kept Azerbaijani lands under occupation for almost 30 years, having plundered and barbarously destroyed them, is presented as... a “victim”. Accordingly, they are trying to exert pressure not on Armenia, but on Azerbaijan. That is, a country that has achieved the restoration of its territorial integrity and sovereignty and which is now spending huge amounts of money to eliminate the consequences of the Armenian occupation.

Armenia did not agree to the voluntary and peaceful return of the occupied Azerbaijani lands. Azerbaijan paid a high price for its Victory, for our flag to fly throughout Karabakh.

And now Peter Stano comes out and, in fact, tries to devalue our historic, military, and political triumph. He voices the opinion of the EU, which is deliberately going to break off relations with Azerbaijan.

“EU member states are beginning discussions on how best to use the European Peace Facility to assist Armenia,” Stano said.

But there is a nuance here.

“For example, in Ukraine, we often use the fund to help the military to defend the country from illegal Russian aggression,” Stano said, describing how money from the European Peace Facility is used.

Who and when attacked Armenia, who bombed its cities, razed them to the ground, occupied them? This has never happened before. The entire 44-day war, as well as the counter-terror measures, occurred on the territory of Azerbaijan.

Accordingly, we again see an example of blatant manipulation and primitive lies. It is insulting not only for Azerbaijan but also for Ukraine. Because, a victim of occupation, was put on a par with the occupier country. Armenia, among other things, is still a member of the CSTO and the EAEU and has no intention of quitting them, and is actively involved in “parallel exports”, thanks to which, Russia manages to circumvent EU sanctions.

Let's move on. “We are very aware that there may be disappointment or criticism that the EU has not done enough work,” Stano said, in an apparent reference to the Armenian narrative of “ethnic cleansing” in Karabakh.

Think about the essence of what was said! Peter Stano apologizes for what Azerbaijan has not done, for what is a blatant invention of Armenia. There are numerous videos of Armenians leaving the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan. They left our lands, where they lived illegally, in cars, receiving water and food for the journey from Azerbaijani border guards. Official Baku, even before the counter-terrorist operation, repeatedly offered them integration and citizenship of Azerbaijan.

All these are obvious facts that Peter Stano blatantly ignores. He should have seen how the Armenian occupiers expelled the Azerbaijanis from their lands in the 1980-1990s. The Azerbaijanis left their homes on foot, wearing whatever they could take with them. There were cases of execution of civilians and separation of children from their parents. But our country has not seen any statement, any sympathy from the EU, which celebrated the 30th anniversary of its creation this year. This is an approach that is shocking in its arrogance and immorality.

But that was not all.

“We very clearly demand that the people of Nagorno-Karabakh have guarantees of safe return. Their property cannot be confiscated by anyone else. There must be guarantees for the safe return of these people if they decide to return,” Stano said.

He can and should be reminded endlessly that there is no “people of Nagorno-Karabakh” - until he learns it by heart. As for security guarantees, hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia should receive them. Actions must be mirrored. Armenians are to return to Azerbaijan only when Azerbaijanis return to Armenia.

Everything else is cynical and stupid chatter of the European official. It is time for everyone to understand that no one has the right to speak to Azerbaijan in the language of ultimatums. In the EU, they can only count on a donut hole or a dead donkey’s ears, which Ostap Bender mentioned with the same confidence as the keys to the apartment where the money is.

Stano himself can become convinced of the absurdity of his speeches if he decides to visit the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. For example, Khankendi. Where the 1/8 finals of the Azerbaijan Football Cup will be held on December 21. Qarabag FC will host the winner of the CSKA – Agdash/Jabrayil pair in Khankendi.

Caliber.Az