Turkish expert: Armenia, EU alienate prospects for peace in South Caucasus

The EU's position and Armenia's actions are negatively impacting the prospects for long-term peace in the South Caucasus, said Bekir Caner Şafak, an expert from the Ankara-based Center for Eurasian Studies (AVİM).

Commenting on the prospects for peace in the South Caucasus, he drew attention to the EU's double standards regarding Azerbaijan, reminding that EU leaders have repeatedly expressed their support for Yerevan in recent years, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

"There is a duality in the EU's approach. On one hand, the EU concluded an agreement to increase Azerbaijani gas purchases – a document signed in 2022 following negotiations involving European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. On the other hand, the European Parliament passed a pro-Armenian resolution in 2023, calling for sanctions against Azerbaijan. I am confident that the EU's stance on COP29 was also shaped by certain political circles and ideological groups," noted the AVİM representative, referring to the fact that EU leaders refused to participate in the 29th session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Azerbaijan.

In this regard, the expert discussed France's position, where the significance of the environmental agenda for the country's future has been repeatedly emphasized, yet it did not send a delegation to COP29.

Bekir Caner Şafak referred to French political scientist Jean-Michel Bruna, who linked Paris' stance on the climate summit in Azerbaijan to the influence of the Armenian lobby.

"It is no secret that both France and the United States are influenced by the Armenian diaspora. In the United States, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is active, and in France, the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations (CCAF) plays a major role. Both structures actively use financial leverage and the media to pressure authorities," continued the AVİM analyst.

According to him, in 2023 alone, the ANCA spent millions of dollars on "financial support" for senators and congressmen in the U.S. In France, the Armenians are more active, which is reflected in the support from President Emmanuel Macron. "With the support of Armenian entrepreneurs in Europe, numerous events are held with the aim of damaging Azerbaijan's image," said the expert.

Speaking about Armenia's position, Bekir Caner Şafak noted that the actions of its authorities contradict Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's assurances of seeking a quick peace with Azerbaijan, which was clearly demonstrated by the absence of a delegation from Yerevan at the climate summit in Baku.

By Khagan Isayev