European Parliament and other failed hopes of Armenians

Miriam Lexmann, the Permanent Rapporteur on Armenia of the European Parliament, gave an interview to the Armenian media, in which she again tried to stir up trouble and give the Armenian side groundless hopes for effective support in matters beyond the competence of the EP and the European Union as a whole.

Her only sound thought in the context of the South Caucasus issue was the need for good relations between Armenia and its closest neighbors, Azerbaijan and Turkiye. This, she said, is important for the European Union, which was also formed after severe wars and strife. That was the end of the speaker's sanity on Armenia. Her other statements were about what to do to prevent this good relationship from happening in any case.

Armenian lobbyists have a very narrow view of Armenia's interests. They constantly demand the realization of these interests from Armenia's neighbors and thus create even more problems for it. The neighbors of this country are not at all obliged to fulfill its wishes, which are sent through European or American structures. Some people think that after this procedure, Armenian interests become global and will be better heard in Baku, but this is a big misconception. For those who did not notice, we would like to point out that none of the Armenian demands voiced through the same European Parliament have been fulfilled. But when Yerevan makes attempts to resolve issues on a bilateral basis, without worldwide hysteria and unnecessary noise, they find their solution to one degree or another.

Of course, this does not mean that Yerevan can ask Baku for anything in a neighborly way and get it. There is a limit to which the Azerbaijani side can be humane. The issues of territories convicted by the Azerbaijani court of separatist leaders and other war criminals, attempts to interfere in the affairs of Azerbaijan, dictate terms to it - all this is beyond the permissible limit. The current Armenian government understands this, so it is not particularly zealous. But to the surprise of the whole world, Baku allowed the transit of goods to Armenia through its territory, sends fuel there at low prices, and discusses trade cooperation and communications with Yerevan.

The numerous lawyers of the Armenians, who occupy seats in the parliaments of various countries, did not think of such a thing. As a rule, they knowingly demand from Baku what will not be done. It is difficult to recall how lobbying has helped Armenia in practice, what it has actually managed to do for it. It seems that the lobby funded by the Diaspora was not created to help Armenia, it is just a screen in order to keep Azerbaijan under pressure. Putting pressure on Baku is not at all synonymous with helping Armenia. Rather, the opposite is true. The more noise, threats, and blackmail there is, the tougher Azerbaijan's position becomes. It has been repeatedly proven that Baku does not succumb to blackmail and threats. Let's recall the notorious 907th Amendment. Its adoption did not force Baku to make concessions to the Armenians, but it soured relations between the United States and Azerbaijan. The European Union does not want to repeat this mistake, although the lobby and Miriam Lexmann are trying very hard.

The Armenian lobby is not a separate group in the European Parliament. The diaspora managed to buy up this structure almost entirely. Therefore, voting on anti-Azerbaijani initiatives takes place there quickly and without obstacles. In recent years, the same situation has developed in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. 

Leksmann, the Rapporteur on Armenia, condemns the European Commission, which does not use its existing levers to force Azerbaijan to fulfill certain requirements in the interests of Armenia. Lexmann is confident that the EC has such levers, but the structure is in no hurry to apply them. And decision-making (oh, how disappointing) is the responsibility of the European Commission. The European Parliament can only make noise, vote and bombard the EC with its resolutions. It is not clear what the Armenians pay the MEPs for.

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Lexmann expressed her "fi" to the EC in response to a question about Armenian criminals convicted in Azerbaijan. The Permanent Rapporteur believes that the European Union is simply obliged to use its levers for the speedy release of these "political prisoners." And not only the European Union. The lobbyist really hopes that the United States should join the pressure, if they are so concerned about the relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The EU and the United States should present a united front here, Lexmann is sure.

A year ago, the European Parliament almost unanimously adopted an urgent resolution entitled "Illegal arrests and fictitious trials of Armenian prisoners by Azerbaijan, including top political representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh." 523 MEPs voted "For" this outrage, only 3 were "against", and 84 abstained. As you can see, the Armenians spent a lot on this document, but in the end it did not give anything. The governing structures of the European Union did not accept it as a guide to action. On the contrary, during this time, the new EU leadership has been actively strengthening relations with Baku.

Over the past year, Armenian criminals have received their sentences, despite the hysteria organized with Ruben Vardanyan's money. And what Miriam Lexmann says in an interview with the Armenian media is just a report on the work done. Yes, it didn't work out, but she tried, and efforts also cost money.

Nothing is working out either in terms of fulfilling the promise to achieve the mass and unconditional return of Armenians to Karabakh, which they left quite voluntarily. The European Parliament has adopted a lot of resolutions, statements, and appeals on this issue. All of these documents demanded that Azerbaijan be punished for "ethnic cleansing," that energy cooperation with it be stopped, and that it be forced to open the way for Armenians to live in Karabakh as they please, without fulfilling conditions "contrary to their will." The EP speaker calls the requirements regarding the adoption of Azerbaijani citizenship and other conditions set by the Azerbaijani side conditions contrary to their will. These requirements are absolutely legitimate and fully comply with international law. No one can force Azerbaijan to change its terms. In addition, regardless of the desire of the Armenians, the issue of the mirror return of Azerbaijanis to Armenia exists, and Baku will not allow it to be removed from the agenda.

Nevertheless, Lexmann hopes and demands that the European Union help the Armenians return to Azerbaijan, without fulfilling Baku's conditions and without saying anything about the return of Azerbaijanis to Armenia. In addition, the EU, she believes, should stand up for the protection of the "Armenian heritage," "because it is our common Christian heritage."

Juggling the religious factor is a traditional lobby tool. This weapon is used when the lobby understands the fragility of all other arguments. Baku acts exclusively within the framework of international law, and attempts to strike at it with some conventions are not yielding results. But the actions of Azerbaijan, which is liquidating the nakhalstroy during the occupation, are based precisely on international law. Every conceivable convention prohibits the occupier from building up and settling the occupied territories, erecting his religious buildings there, using the natural resources of these territories, and destroying monuments and sanctuaries remaining in the occupation zone. After the de-occupation, everything that was built during the years of occupation is subject to demolition. This is part of the reparations, and no one can forbid the Azerbaijani side to clear its lands of this rubbish.

No matter how numerous the lobby is, no matter how generous the Diaspora is, the Armenians will not be able to achieve the implementation of the demands contained in the resolutions of the European Parliament and the statements of the lobbyists.

Miriam Lexmann is being very unfair to the Armenians. She gives them false hopes. It's even cruel of her.