When attacking Armenia
FDP parliamentary group vice-president brings sanctions against Azerbaijan into play
November 3, 2023, 8:04 a.m
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After Azerbaijan’s military offensive on the Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, there are concerns that Azerbaijan will now also attack Armenia. FDP politician Michael Link warns of this – and is already proposing concrete sanctions in the event of an attack.
Foreign politician and deputy FDP parliamentary group leader Michael Link has warned Azerbaijan against an attack on Armenia. “In recent days, Azerbaijan has increasingly threatened to take over Armenian territory, especially in order to create a land connection to the Azerbaijani exclave Nakhichevan,” said Link before Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s two-day trip to the South Caucasus conflict region around Nagorno-Karabakh. “This must not happen under any circumstances,” he added.
If Azerbaijan actually attacks core Armenian territory and does not respect Armenia’s territorial integrity, “the EU should stop the gas supply agreement with Azerbaijan,” demanded Link, who is also the transatlantic coordinator at the Foreign Office. “In addition, the EU should significantly increase the number of its observers in the south of Armenia as quickly as possible in order to secure Armenia’s territory through more international presence.”
Baerbock’s journey brings hope
“Azerbaijan has a responsibility for the security and future of Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh,” Link said. Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan under international law – this gives the country “an active responsibility for the preservation of Armenian life in Azerbaijan.”
Link welcomed Baerbock’s trip to Armenia and Azerbaijan “so that this conflict is not forgotten internationally.” The Foreign Minister will hold political talks in Armenia and Azerbaijan. Around a month and a half after the surrender of the armed forces in Nagorno-Karabakh, the focus should be on the situation of the more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians who have fled the region.