“We Will Never Change Our Principles or Positions”: Roberta Metsola Responds to Aliyev

YEREVAN — “We will never change our procedures or the positions we adopt.”

This was stated by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola during the 8th European Political Community (EPC) Summit, in response to remarks made by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who claimed that the European Parliament targets Azerbaijan by spreading misinformation.

“I must speak, because one of the speeches focused on the European Parliament, and I believe a prompt response is necessary,” Metsola said.

“I think meetings that include a certain level of disagreement are always healthy. However, I would like to respond quickly and emphasize that the European Parliament is a democratically elected body composed of directly elected representatives. Its resolutions are adopted by majority vote, and while their outcomes may be uncomfortable for some, we will never change our procedures or the positions we adopt,” she added.

Last week, the European Parliament reaffirmed its support for the rights of Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh through a resolution titled “Support for Democratic Resilience in Armenia.” The resolution calls for the protection of their identity, property, and cultural heritage, as well as their right to a safe, unimpeded, and dignified return. It also condemns the detention of Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan and calls for their immediate release.

Azerbaijan, however, maintains that Armenians left Nagorno-Karabakh voluntarily, that cultural heritage in the region is not being destroyed, and that prisoners of war have been released and returned home, with only individuals accused of “serious crimes” remaining in Baku’s prisons.

On May 1, the European Union’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mariana Kuyunchich, was summoned to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs following the adoption of the resolution concerning Armenia.

The resolution sparked strong criticism from official Baku. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning what it described as the “unfounded and biased provisions” of the resolution and formally lodged a protest with the ambassador.

On May 4, speaking via video link at the EPC Summit, President Aliyev again expressed dissatisfaction with resolutions adopted by European institutions and with European Union policies.