Dutch MEP Peter van Dalen delivered a fiery speech in the EP on October 8 in favor of the Armenians caught in the recent conflict in the Nagorno Karabakh region.
He, and other MEPs, have pointed to Turkey’s President- Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s military support to the Azerbaijan side, support in the form of jihadist militants. Remarks have also been made in the EP plenary to the Armenian genocide of 1915, when 1.5 million ethnic Armenians were killed in Turkey. In a letter to EU High Representative Borrell, Van Dalen and MEPs asked for EU to firmly condemn and put pressure on Turkey to cease its interference in the Azerbaijan- Armenia conflict.
Zhoghovurd daily spoke with Peter Van Dalen, the representative of the Netherlands in the European Parliament, about the situation in Artsakh and possible developments.
-Mr. Van Dale, 27 days have passed since the war in Artsakh. What is your opinion on the situation in Artsakh?
-The aggression of Azerbaijan, fully supported by Turkey, is totally condemnable. The circumstances for the people in Nagorno-Karabakh are deplorable. I hear of many deaths and wounded, and civilians in Stepanakert constantly living in basements because of the shelling. I am deeply concerned about this war against the Christians of Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia. Is this again a Turkish genocide?!
– In that case, how do you see the settlement of the issue? Eventually the UN, the Minsk Group and the EU called for an end to the fire, but fighting continued. Why?
-Turkey supports Azerbaijan and the Aliyev clique all the way. The Turkish position makes it difficult for several European countries to openly take a stand in this conflict unfortunately, since Turkey is part of NATO. So it is time to fully reconsider this membership since Erdogan only understands strong actions, he is not impressed by words and discussions.
–The Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan expressed an opinion that Azerbaijan will continue the struggle as long as Turkey’s position remains unchanged. Do you agree with him and how can Turkey be stopped?
Turkey’s position is reprehensible. The EU should condemn the involvement of Turkey in this conflict, since this country is destabilizing the region and Erdogan is trying to restore the Ottoman empire! For years I am against Turkey’s status as an EU candidate country in view of all the developments with and within Turkey. Think of the Turkish aggression all over the Mediterranean area and the Caucasus. And its failing rule of law, harsh dealing with religious minorities such as Christians and their monasteries, the shift of the Hagia Sophia to a mosque and the imprisonment of many people on false accusations of espionage. Turkey’s EU candidate membership, and all the money that goes with it, must stop now! And the EU should look at sanctions against Turkey in order to stop its full scale aggression. Furthermore, NATO should reconsider the membership of Turkey.
-The authorities of Armenia and Artsakh also call for the recognition of Artsakh independence. What do you think prevents it?
-A country can be recognized if it meets international criteria like a defined territory, a permanent population, having a government and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.
Do you think there will be countries that will recognize Artsakh?
-We should support Nagorno Karabakh. Since Christianity now is threatened.
Author-Naira Hovhannisyan
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