Baku: Azerbaijan's parliament has taken a decisive step by adopting a resolution to suspend all areas of cooperation with the European Parliament, accusing it of perpetuating an "anti-Azerbaijani policy" and engaging in slanderous activities. The National Assembly's resolution underscores Azerbaijan's commitment to peace and security through open dialogue with foreign parliaments, but it claims the European Parliament's actions have hindered such efforts.
According to Anadolu Agency, Azerbaijan's state news agency Azertac highlighted that the National Assembly's resolution accused the European Parliament of becoming an obstacle to bilateral and multilateral cooperation. It cited that platforms like the EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee and the EuroNest Parliamentary Assembly have turned into tools of interference in Azerbaijan's internal affairs. Despite a previous suspension of relations in 2015, Azerbaijan had resumed cooperation based on assurances from the European side, which it claims have not been fulfilled.
The resolution further criticized the European Parliament for harboring corruption and prioritizing lobby groups, expressing concerns over its influence on Azerbaijan-EU relations and its stance in the South Caucasus region. The European Parliament was accused of opposing peace efforts in the region and inciting revanchist forces.
In a related move, Azerbaijan summoned the European Union's ambassador, protesting a recent resolution by the European Parliament. Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry argued that the resolution contained biased provisions, misrepresenting facts and infringing on Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The ministry asserted that Armenian residents in the Karabakh region left voluntarily and rejected claims about the destruction of cultural heritage as groundless.
The resolution adopted by the European Parliament called for the release of Armenian "prisoners of war" and accountability for the destruction of Armenian cultural heritage, alongside support for Armenian residents' safe return to Karabakh. Azerbaijan's response emphasized its humane approach in releasing prisoners and urged the EU to avoid actions detrimental to bilateral relations and regional peace.