European parliament deplores construction of new highway between Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh

European Parliament members Marina Kaljurand, EP standing rapporteur on Armenia Traian Basescu and the EP standing rapporteur on Azerbaijan Zeljana Zovko issued a joint statement on the construction of a new highway between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

“Announced last year, the construction of a third highway connecting Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh will kick off soon. This new road infrastructure will connect Kapan, in Armenia, with Hadrut, in Nagorno- Karabakh, passing through the districts of Qubadli and Jabrayil, which are also occupied,” they said in the statement.

The members of the European Parliament stressed that they support projects that foster regional cooperation, connectivity and people-to-people contacts in the Eastern Neighbourhood, adding though that the decision to build this highway has been taken without the consent of the competent authorities of Azerbaijan –in violation of international law.

“In addition, it could symbolically entrench the illegal occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and of its surrounding districts. Therefore, we very much deplore this initiative as it does not help to create conditions conducive to trust, peace and reconciliation. We reiterate our unwavering support to the efforts of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and their 2009 Basic Principles. For this mediation to have a chance of success, we call on the authorities of Armenia and Azerbaijan to step up their commitment, in good faith, to the negotiation on the peaceful resolution of the conflict within the internationally recognised borders of Azerbaijan,” the statement reads.