Swedish FM’s support for EU high rep's views faces scrutiny Stance on Azerbaijan

Swedish MP and co-chair of the Sweden-Armenia Friendship Group Erik Hellsborn has written on X that Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström believes that a sustainable peace agreement is crucial for establishing security and stability in the South Caucasus region.

The MP addressed the Swedish foreign minister regarding the detained Armenian war criminals held in Azerbaijan. Hellsborn inquired whether Stockholm could impose sanctions on Baku if the US decides to do so. This question appears to be provocatively designed, distorting the history, nature, and final of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.

The motives behind this Swedish MP’s actions remain to be seen, but we all remember Armenia’s longstanding tradition of buying influence through various politicians, public figures, and journalists across different countries.

Moreover, Hellsborn’s role as a member of the Sweden-Armenia Friendship Group heightens, our suspicions. In any case, the response from the Swedish foreign minister was more significant than Hellsborn’s verbal provocation.

"The government assumes that Azerbaijan is fulfilling its international obligations and acting in accordance with international law," Tobias Billström said.

This response likely disappointed not only Hellsborn but also his Armenian friends.

This issue could have been conclusively settled if the Swedish foreign minister had not made what we consider to be an unnecessary clarification.

He noted that the government supports the statement made by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell on January 22, which asserts that "violations of Armenia's territorial integrity are unacceptable and will have serious consequences for Azerbaijan's relations with the EU."

"In this case, no actions, including sanctions, can be ruled out," the Swedish foreign minister said.

Commentary is necessary here. First, it is important to note that Josep Borrell, whom the Swedish foreign minister refers to, has held his current position as EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy since December 1, 2019—almost five years. During this period, he has never condemned Armenia, which occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijani territory for over a quarter of a century.

Borrell remained silent while Yerevan ignored resolutions from the UN Security Council and General Assembly. He also chose not to comment when recently released former Armenian Defence Minister David Tonoyan claimed that a new Armenian-Azerbaijani war would lead to the capture of more Azerbaijani territories.

The EU high representative remained silent when Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared from the square in Khankendi that "Karabakh is Armenia and period." He did not condemn Armenia for its provocative actions in the direction of Tovuz during the summer of 2020.

Borrell did not condemn Armenia for the shelling of Azerbaijani civilians during the 44-day second Karabakh war, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of Azerbaijani civilians—elderly, women, and children.

He also failed to condemn Armenia for the "mine terror" that led to the deaths of around 400 Azerbaijanis even after the war ended.

Thus, appealing to Borrell, and agreeing with him, is an erroneous stance for anyone, including the Swedish foreign minister. Sweden has never raised the issue of imposing sanctions on Armenia throughout the years of its occupation of Azerbaijani lands. In any case, Tobias Billström should remember that strengthening relations between Baku and Stockholm requires a careful, nuanced, and objective approach to all sensitive issues between Azerbaijan and Sweden countries.

Attempts to equate the occupying country with the victim of occupation, as well as threats directed at Azerbaijan, will not contribute to improving the Azerbaijan-Sweden relations.

Akbar Hasanov