Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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13. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he will take at both national and European level to ensure peace and justice for Armenia; if he will seek to increase the EU observer mission in the region; if he will seek accountability for Azerbaijan for its crime of ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27495/24]

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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My question relates to the ongoing tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. There has been ethnic cleansing, provocation and aggression from Azerbaijan, and many false allegations. One of the few things maintaining peace in the region is the EU observer force. Can we increase this? Now is the time, of course, when there is much change in the European Union. Can we push this to ensure peace in the region?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for his continuing interest, commitment and advocacy on this issue. Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan remain an issue of concern for Ireland and the European Union. I regularly discuss the situation in Armenia and the region with my European Union colleagues, most recently at the March meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. The European Union has been playing an active role in mediation efforts aimed at securing an overarching peace agreement and the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This normalisation process must be based on the mutual recognition of sovereignty, inviolability of borders and the territorial integrity of both countries, a fact we have consistently emphasised to both Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Ireland condemned the September 2023 military escalation by Azerbaijan which caused over 100,000 Karabakh Armenians to flee their homes, creating an international humanitarian crisis. In response, Ireland and the EU have provided humanitarian assistance to support those affected. Ireland continues to raise the rights of Karabakh Armenians in bilateral meetings with Azerbaijani officials. We have been clear that those displaced must be allowed to return to their homes.

I welcome Armenia’s increasing European orientation in recent months as a positive opportunity for deepening relations and working towards peace in the south Caucasus. The announcement of a new EU-Armenia partnership agenda underlines the EU’s support for Armenia in light of current challenges. Ireland and the European Union are committed to deepening our relations with Armenia in all dimensions.

The European Union civilian crisis management mission to Armenia can also play an important role in the normalisation of relations. Ireland is fully supportive of the mission and its mandate. I am pleased that we have two Irish experts currently deployed with the mission. Ireland also supports the extension of the mandate of the European Union special representative for the south Caucasus, which is due to expire in August.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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I thank the Tánaiste. I will just underline that what we are dealing with here is a dictatorship in Azerbaijan that has not only trampled over the rights of its own people but continues to do so with the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, including those who have been arrested without trial. Azerbaijan also continues to threaten Armenia.

As the Minister says, there have been attempts at normalisation and a peace treaty. There have been exchanges but what we are seeing is Azerbaijan making wild and false claims against Armenia. The presence of the EU observer force in the region has been able to damp down and quell these moves. The Armenian orientation towards Europe is definitely welcome. Armenia is doing what it can and making sacrifices in respect of some of its border villages to try to maintain peace. We should be doing everything we can to help it by increasing that presence.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I accept the basic point the Deputy is making on enhancing that presence and strengthening it with a view to facilitating greater movement in terms of the rights of Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh area. This has been a long-standing conflict, causing a lot of death. There are refugees on both sides, with the displacement of some 800,000 people since the beginning of the conflict. It is quite shocking and in our view unnecessary. Dialogue and diplomacy should have resolved this. The European mission could be expanded. We will take a proactive approach in line with that sentiment.