In the Republic of Armenia, in addition to the traditional Russophobia and hatred of Russia and the usual Turkophobia, "Europhilia" has sharply escalated. From now on, Europe and European integration will be the benchmark for Armenians. Demands to "set a course" for membership of the EU and NATO are becoming louder and louder, especially since the key state there is France, so beloved by Armenian nationalists.

However, the Republic of Armenia does not have direct land or sea access to the EU. One proposed solution for Armenian nationalists is to support Georgia's candidacy for EU membership. Despite Turkey having held this status for a long time, Armenians have not been inspired to follow suit for obvious reasons. Today, Armenia aims to 'open a window to Europe' through Georgia, which the power of the Armenian lobby may eventually influence.

The recent transit of French armoured vehicles through Georgia to Armenia had a significant impact on Armenian nationalists. It is important to note that this is a subjective evaluation and should be clearly marked as such. It may have weakened Georgia's international positions, but it emboldened the Armenian revanchists. They now believe that in the event of a new war in the region, Georgia could again succumb to France's pressure, which they view as a European power.

From now on, the Armenians intend to rely not on Russia, but on the EU and the USA for their "security" and, in fact, for the support of their aggressive plans.  On 5 April 2024, a joint EU-Armenia-US conference will be held in Brussels with the participation of the Armenian Prime Minister, the US Secretary of State and the President of the European Commission, where it is planned to sign a document on security guarantees for Armenia.

Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ayhan Hajizadeh responded to media questions about the planned joint EU-Armenia-USA conference.  He recalled that "the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia was initiated by the Azerbaijani side, which has always adopted a constructive position on all issues of post-conflict normalisation.

During the Prague quadripartite meeting on 6 October, the Azerbaijani side was invited to agree to the deployment of a short-term EU monitoring mission (EUMCAP), consisting of 40 EU civilian experts, to monitor the Armenian side of the non-contiguous border, which should contribute to confidence-building between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Unfortunately, after its initial two-month mandate expired without Azerbaijan's consent, EUMCAP was transformed into the EU Mission to Armenia (EUMA), with a much longer mandate and a much larger number of observers.

Since then, the mission has been actively used as an instrument of anti-Azerbaijani propaganda. Moreover, Canada's participation in the EUMA is de facto reminiscent of a NATO mission. It has also been accompanied by statements describing the EUMA as a deterrent force and creating the illusion of a possible Azerbaijani intervention, which has no basis in fact".

So the Armenian nationalists, disappointed with the attempts to seize other people's land (in this case Azerbaijan Karabakh with the help of Russia), want to do it with the help of the EU and NATO and under their "cover". And they are already arming themselves for a new aggression.

According to Ayhan Hajizadeh, the cause for concern is the French-led campaign to militarise Armenia, including new pledges to increase military supplies (including lethal and offensive weapons). Another EU member state, Greece, has recently made statements about deepening military cooperation with Armenia. Moreover, plans to provide military assistance to Armenia under the European Peace Facility and reports that the 5 April meeting will include military components raise additional concerns and undermine peace-building efforts in the region.

Interestingly, Azerbaijan, which has been the victim of armed aggression, occupation and ethnic cleansing for nearly 30 years, and despite four UN Security Council resolutions calling for the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian occupation forces, has never received such unconditional support from the EU and the US.

Such actions by the EU and the US are clearly unilateral, biased and based on double standards. The conference is not fully transparent, lacks regional inclusiveness and runs counter to the much needed confidence and integrity building in the region. It creates new dividing lines and so-called spheres of influence in the region instead of encouraging the Armenian side to negotiate in good faith.

Ayhan Hajizadeh noted that given the revanchist sentiments in Armenia, an openly pro-Armenian public statement by Washington and Brussels could create a dangerous illusion in Armenia that the EU and the US will support Armenia in its possible new provocations against Azerbaijan. In such a case, the EU and the US would share responsibility for possible destabilising actions by Armenia.

Azerbaijan calls on all parties to refrain from steps that are counterproductive to peace efforts and could provoke new waves of escalation and tension in the region. All the more so now, when there is a unique opportunity to achieve lasting peace, stability and security based on the fundamental norms and principles of international law.

It can be said that, on the initiative of the USA and the EU, the process of "dismemberment" of the South Caucasus has indeed begun, where, according to the plans of the "dismemberers", "pro-French" Armenia, which has received "security guarantees" from the EU and the USA, and Georgia, which is subordinated to its lobby, could be on one side and Azerbaijan on the other.

Simultaneously, as a gesture of appreciation for the temporary cessation of Georgian politics in favour of the Armenian lobby, the Armenians and their supporters will not work towards the restoration of Georgia's territorial integrity. It should be noted that they have already established a majority in the occupied region of Abkhazia, and their position will only be further solidified if the occupation and separatist regime persist.

Of course, the "partition" of the South Caucasus could jeopardise transit projects along the Midland Corridor, ranging from energy to railways, which are of strategic importance for the world economy. This is the dream of France, which, with the help of Armenia, wants to "cut off" both the Turkish world and the Eurasian transit. The fact that the Georgian economy will eventually be plunged into a serious crisis does not bother the "Europeans" and especially the Armenian "friends of Georgia". On the contrary, for Armenian nationalists, the poorer and weaker Georgia will be, the better, and the easier it will be to subjugate it to their influence. Furthermore, Armenia's supporters may involve our country in wars and instability to achieve their long-standing goals and gain access to the Black Sea. Azerbaijan and Turkey require a robust, stable, and prosperous Georgia that has regained its territorial integrity. In contrast, Armenia, with 'security guarantees' from the US and the EU and military equipment from France and India, may resume its efforts to seize other nations' territories, including Azerbaijani land.  

George Mazniashvili