October 7, 2020

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EU Statement on Nagorno-Karabakh

1385th Meeting of the Committee of Ministers (7 October 2020)

1. The European Union is extremely concerned at the resumption of armed hostilities since September 27 along the line of contact in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, which has claimed many civilian victims. The European Union takes this opportunity to express its condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives and its best wishes for a speedy recovery to those who have been injured.

2. As the Council of Europe Secretary General reminded in her statement of 27 September, upon their accession to the Council of Europe, Armenia and Azerbaijan committed themselves to solving the conflict by peaceful means, and this commitment is to be strictly respected. On 30 September, after having examined an application lodged by Armenia, the European Court of Human Rights issued an interim measure under Rule 39 of the Rules of Court, calling upon both countries to refrain from taking any measures, in particular military action, which might entail breaches of the rights of the civilian population guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights, including putting their life and health at risk, and to comply with their engagements under the Convention.

3. The European Union urges the parties to fully respect their Council of Europe obligations and commitments. We fully share the opinion of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights that the escalation of the conflict is posing a serious threat to the right to life and the freedom from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and we strongly support the call by the Secretary General to implement without delay the interim measures decided by the Court.

4. The EU calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urges parties to recommit to a lasting ceasefire and the peaceful settlement of the conflict. The loss of life and the toll on the civilian population are unacceptable. There can be no military solution to the conflict, nor any external interference. Azerbaijan and Armenia should engage in substantive negotiations without preconditions. The EU expresses its support for the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

The following countries align with this statement: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Montenegro, Republic of North Macedonia, San Marino, Serbia