After the surrender of Armenian fighters in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan has begun to fully ‘reintegrate’ the area. Meanwhile, a major evacuation mission has begun. According to the Ministry of Defense in Moscow, Russian blue helmet soldiers stationed on the ground have so far brought around 5,000 Karabakh Armenians from particularly dangerous places. The Armenian community in Austria warns of a “second genocide”.
Representatives of the Armenian community in Austria have called on the federal government and the international community to raise their voices against the “humanitarian, cultural and geopolitical catastrophe” in Nagorno-Karabakh. As a neutral country, Austria has a historic obligation to do this, the Armenian Apostolic Church in Austria and numerous Armenian community associations said in a joint broadcast on Thursday.
The recognition by the world public of the first genocide of the Armenian people in the Ottoman Empire in 1915 took too long, the broadcast said. Austria officially recognized the Armenian genocide in 2015, straining bilateral relations with Ankara. “Now human lives must be saved and a second genocide against the Armenian people averted,” demanded the representatives of the Armenian community.
The EU demands security guarantees
Following the military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, the end of which was announced on Wednesday evening by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the EU is demanding security guarantees for the Armenians living there. EU Council President Charles Michel made clear in a phone call with Aliyev that his country had to ensure that ethnic Armenians were respected and had a future in Azerbaijan, a senior EU official said on Thursday.
Conditions must be created for safe and voluntary departure for those wishing to leave Nagorno-Karabakh. Regarding Aliyev’s position in the conversation, the official said he rejected international mediation in the conflict and reiterated that the military operation was justified. Azerbaijan is now interested in continuing the “reintegration” of the area and is said to be considering an amnesty for those who have laid down their arms.
A sensitive issue for Brussels
The issue is explosive for Brussels because the EU wants to further expand gas transactions with the country in order to become independent of Russia’s energy supply. According to a declaration of intent signed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President Aliyev in the summer of 2022, the supply volume for the EU should reach at least 20 billion cubic meters per year from 2027.
Source: Krone
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