POLITICS
TEAS condemns inflammatory members of European Parliament visit to illegally-occupied Nagorno-Karabakh
Budapest, May 1 (AZERTAC). The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) has strongly condemned a visit to the Nagorno-Karabakh on 26 April 2013 by several members of the European Parliament (MEPs). TEAS regarded this provocative visit as detrimental to the peace process, since it undermines the work of the OSCE Minsk Group, which calls on Armenia to leave the Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven surrounding Azerbaijani regions.
The delegation was headed by MEP Eleni Theocharous (EPP, Cyprus), and included MEPs Frank Engel (EPP, Luxembourg), Ewald Stadler (NI, Austria) and Kyriakos Triandafyllides (EUL/NGL, Cyprus).
Roman Huna, Head of TEAS Belgium, said: "Over the past few years, the European Union and Azerbaijan have demonstrated that they are constructive partners. In particular, they have established constructive dialogue regarding energy security, cultural exchange and political rapprochement. We believe that the recent MEPs` mission to the Nagorno-Karabakh is contrary to international law and shows disrespect to the national sovereignty of Azerbaijan, which is an important partner of the EU, and a member of the United Nations Security Council."
Dr Huna said: "TEAS remains committed to its goal – a peaceful settlement – as the one and only guarantee for the economic and social stability of the entire South Caucasus region. In the meantime, TEAS will continue to contribute towards a constructive exchange of information between its stakeholders in Azerbaijan and the European institutions."