Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2024
151. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his engagements with the government of Armenia; his efforts to develop and deepen bilateral, economic and cultural relations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16740/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra152. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his engagements with the government of Azerbaijan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16741/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra153. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his engagements with international partners regarding Armenia and Azerbaijan, with a view to contributing to conflict resolution and bringing about a lasting peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16742/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 151 to 153, inclusive, together.
Tensions in the South Caucasus between Armenia and Azerbaijan remain an issue of concern for Ireland and the European Union, including following Azerbaijan’s military escalation in September 2023, and subsequent exodus of over 100,000 Karabakh Armenians to Armenia.
Ireland fully supports efforts to ensure a lasting, sustainable and comprehensive peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of borders. Ireland continues to engage bilaterally with Armenia and Azerbaijan regarding the situation in the region, and on issues of bilateral importance, including at recent meetings.
The European Union regularly discusses the situation in the region, and how the EU can play a role in facilitating peace, most recently during the Foreign Affairs Council meetings in January and March 2024. The European Union continues to work closely with both sides in support of a sustainable peace.
From 27- 29th November 2023, the European Commission and European External Action Service (EEAS) undertook a joint fact-finding mission to Armenia to identify areas for deepening EU-Armenia co-operation. The EU representatives met with senior interlocutors from the Armenian Government, and I welcome the subsequent announcement by the European Union that it will negotiate an ambitious new partnership agenda with Armenia in this context.
I welcome the meeting on 5 April between President of the European Commission von der Leyen, EU High Representative Borrell, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, USAID Administrator Samantha Power, and Prime Minister of Armenia Pashinyan, which reaffirmed the EU’s support for Armenia's sovereignty, democracy, territorial integrity, and socio-economic resilience.
I also welcome the meeting of Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Aliyev during the Munich Security Conference in February, and the subsequent meeting of Foreign Ministers in Berlin. We encourage all efforts that bring the sides together for dialogue.
My European colleagues and I had an informal exchange with the Armenian Foreign Minister, Ararat Mirzoyan at the Foreign Affairs Council on 11 December. This was a timely opportunity to receive an update on the prospects for an overarching peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and on EU-Armenia relations, as well as the situation of the over 100,000 Karabakh Armenians currently in Armenia.
In October 2023 the European Union agreed Council Conclusions which underline the EU’s continued support for advancing a sustainable and lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, based on the principles of recognition of sovereignty, the inviolability of borders and territorial integrity. Ireland also continues to engage on this issue at the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and the OSCE.
In terms of bilateral contacts, I discussed the situation in the region and the welfare of civilians in my call with Foreign Minister Mirzoyan on 11 August last year. The Taoiseach subsequently met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in October in the margins of the European Political Community Summit in Granada and emphasised Ireland’s concern for the welfare of those displaced by the conflict, and our support for a lasting peace in the region.
Ireland continues to work with Armenia to deepen our bilateral relationship. Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs met with the Armenian Ambassador to the UK and Ireland, His Excellency Varuzhan Nerseyan, during his visit to Dublin on 10 April. They discussed the situation in the South Caucasus region, and how to strengthen both EU – Armenian and bilateral ties between our two countries. My officials will continue to engage with Armenia on these issues.
Similarly, my officials continue to engage with their Azerbaijani counterparts on the situation in the region, and on issues of bilateral importance. Officials met with a representative from the Embassy of Azerbaijan to the UK and Ireland during his visit to Dublin on 20 March, and discussed the prospects for peace in the region, and issues of bilateral importance including Azerbaijan’s priorities for the upcoming COP9 climate change conference, which will be held in Baku. Ireland will continue to engage with Azerbaijan in the run up to this important conference.
Ireland will continue to support efforts to arrive at a negotiated, comprehensive and sustainable settlement of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan to the benefit of all people of the region.
