Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said Yerevan does not rule out taking its dispute with Russia over the management of the South Caucasus Railway to an international court if the issue cannot be resolved through negotiations. At the same time, he stressed that the Armenian authorities hope to settle the matter through talks.
The Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Azerbaijan, Marianna Kujundzic, has been summoned to the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In Baku, the ambassador was presented with a note of protest over the "anti-Azerbaijani" resolution adopted by the European Parliament on April 30.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry condemned the resolution, calling its provisions unfounded and biased, distorting reality, and contradicting the principles of objectivity. Baku viewed the European Parliament's calls for the return of Armenian residents to Karabakh as interference in its internal affairs, emphasizing that the Armenians left the region voluntarily, despite the reintegration plan.
At a meeting with the ambassador, Azerbaijan stated that demands to release Armenians, designated as "prisoners of war" in the resolution, are null and void. The Foreign Ministry recalled Baku's humanitarian efforts to release a number of individuals. Regarding the convicted former Karabakh leaders, the ministry recalled that they are guilty of serious crimes, including terrorism.
Furthermore, the European Parliament's document called the allegations of "destruction of cultural heritage" unfounded. It also noted the lack of response from European institutions to the destruction of Azerbaijani heritage during the occupation of Karabakh.
Baku instructed the EU representative to avoid steps that could hinder the development of relations with Europe and the achievement of peace in the region.