On 13 October, the regular Eastern Partnership Senior Officials Meeting took place via VTC; the Armenian delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Avet Adonts. 

In his speech, the Deputy Minister Adonts noted that Armenia has always stressed the importance of the Eastern Partnership and its aspiration to make it more value-based and cooperation-oriented. To this end, Armenia presented its priorities and proposals for the post-2020 agenda of the Eastern Partnership.

The Deputy Minister also noted that today, however, he is not in a position to discuss the future of the Eastern Partnership, since it has no future as long as the values and aims at its core are being brutally violated by one of its member, Azerbaijan, which with a direct support of Turkey and with the participation of foreign terrorist fighters transferred by Turkey, for the 16th consequent day continues open aggression against Artsakh and Armenia, bombing and shelling civilian populations and vital infrastructures, including with the use of cluster munitions and other internationally prohibited weaponry.

Avet Adonts underlined that Azerbaijan is blatantly ignoring principles at the core of the international law and international humanitarian law, as well as multiple calls of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, leaders of different countries and international organizations, including the European Union, Members of the European Parliament.

He stressed that the Azerbaijani aggression, committed in a time of the COVID-19 pandemic, is openly instigated by Turkey, which extends all possible support to Azerbaijan, iter alia, by providing it with considerable part of its military equipment, including F-16s, UAVs and more, as well as its personnel. Turkey intends to perpetrate yet another genocide against the Armenian people, which is a part of its expansionistic aspirations and wider plan to revive the Ottoman Empire.

The Deputy Minister stated that amidst the humanitarian crisis threatening the region, the existential threat of the people of Artsakh can only be prevented by remedial recognition of their right to self-determination.

Referring to the agreement, reached after 11 hours of talks in Moscow, to establish a humanitarian ceasefire, Deputy Minister Adonts stated that it was breached by Azerbaijan in exactly five minutes, by targeting civilians in Artsakh and Armenia. The Defense Army of Artsakh had no choice but to retaliate in defending its people from imminent extermination. Azerbaijan continues violating the humanitarian ceasefire up to now.

Coming back to the Eastern Partnership, Avet Adonts called on the EU and its Member States to consider suspending Azerbaijan’s EaP membership, as it depreciates the very concept of the Eastern Partnership and the democratic values at its core.

The Deputy Minister underlined that Armenia remains committed to the exclusively peaceful resolution of the conflict, mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. He also expressed appreciation to all countries and leaders who do their utmost to bring peace to our region.