Association Agreements with Armenia and Azerbaijan – Wednesday 18th April 2012

A resolution on the negotiations on the association agreement between Azerbaijan and the European Union has been adopted during the European Parliament’s session in Strasbourg on Wednesday 18th April 2012.

The resolution advises the Council and the Commission on what line to adopt when negotiating association agreements with Armenia and Azerbaijan. MEPs approved the EU-Azerbaijan resolution with - 520 votes in favour, 32 against and 24 abstentions and the EU-Armenia resolution with 508 in favour, 29 against and 27 abstentions.

During the discussions MEPs expressed their hope that the negotiations on the EU association agreements with Azerbaijan and Armenia will be favorable for the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The resolutions denounce the area's militarisation and high military spending and appeal to EU Member States to discontinue supplying both nations with weapons and munitions.

The resolutions commend Armenia's reform ambitions and energy cooperation thus far with
Azerbaijan, however they also warn against human rights violations, in connection with the 2012 Eurovision song contest in Baku, Azerbaijan and the 6 May parliamentary elections in Armenia. MEPs deem that this agreement will enhance human rights and democratic reforms in both nations and boost the EU’s role in this process.

MEPs also call on the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to tone down the language of their statements to pave the way for genuine dialogue.