Russia's failure to ensure peace and security in the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh is a 'betrayal' of the Armenian people, Charles Michel told Euronews on Monday.
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00:00 The president of the European Council believes that Russia has betrayed the Armenian population
00:05 following Azerbaijan's attack on Nagorno-Karabakh.
00:10 Talking to Euronews, Charles Michel underlined that this is one of the lessons learned from
00:14 the conflict between Yerevan and Baku.
00:16 "There is a certainty now, no one can deny it, that Russia is betraying the Armenian
00:23 population.
00:24 Russia has made a wish to have soldiers present to guarantee its stability and security agreements.
00:31 We see that this military operation has been triggered without any reaction from Russia
00:35 on the ground.
00:36 This was not the case with the European Union, which does not have military forces on the
00:39 ground as you know."
00:40 Charles Michel will try and kick-start fresh talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan during
00:45 a summit of European countries in Grenada at the end of the week, even if the last mediation
00:49 failed to prevent the recent attack.
00:51 "The first of January, Nagorno-Karabakh will cease to exist.
00:56 How do you create confidence in these conditions?"
00:59 "I think there is a great responsibility on the Azerbaijani side.
01:02 From the moment Azerbaijan started a military operation, it is now up to Azerbaijan to show
01:06 good will, good faith in an engagement with necessary surveillance on an international
01:12 level to protect the rights and security of the entire population that lives in Azerbaijan,
01:17 including the Armenian population."
01:19 But relations between the European Union and Azerbaijan are complex.
01:23 The bloc increased its purchase of gas supplies from Baku last year, a deal that Charles Michel
01:29 refrains from questioning, opting instead to put the emphasis on peace efforts.
01:33 "Is it a partner today?
01:36 Yes, it is a partner.
01:38 Does that mean that the relationship is simple?
01:41 No, the relationship is not simple.
01:42 Is there a difficulty?
01:43 Yes, and this difficulty is real, it must be apprehended."
01:46 You can watch the full interview from Wednesday on Euronews on The Global Conversation.
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