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On April 3, the members of the Armenia-Poland Friendship Group met with the delegation led by the Head of the Poland-Armenia Friendship Group Radoslaw Fogiel.

Welcoming the colleagues, the Head of the Armenia-Poland Friendship Group Arusyak Julhakyan highlighted the closer cooperation between the two countries, underscoring the cooperation and meetings formed between the Committees on Foreign Relations of parliaments.

Arusyak Julhakyan noted that both during the coronavirus pandemic and the 44-day war unleashed by Azerbaijan, the Armenian people always felt the support by Poland. “It is important that you are also on our side now,” the Head of the Friendship Group said, valuing the recently adopted resolution by the Polish Senate in this context condemning Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin Corridor. Arusyak Julhakyan thanked Poland for deploying the European Union Civilian Observation Mission in Armenia, underlining the efforts of Poland in this matter. It was mentioned that after the deployment of the Observation Mission, the situation has stabilized to some extent. “After the deployment of the Mission, we had neither any serious escalation, nor any substantive provocative actions by Azerbaijan. We consider that this Mission has a restraining effect on the provocative actions of our neighbour,” the Head of the Group said.

According to the Head of the Poland-Armenia Friendship Group Radoslaw Fogiel, Poland has long been following the situation in Armenia, particularly on the border, and is concerned about the blockade of the Lachin Corridor. “We think that the Corridor should be reopened as soon as possible, and relations between Armenia and its neighbour should be settled peacefully,” he said. Touching upon regional issues, the Polish parliamentarian stated that the Nagorno Karabakh issue is also in the centre of Poland’s attention. “Poland is trying to support the reforms implemented in Armenia as much as possible. We notice the reforms that have already been implemented,” the deputy said. The Head of the delegation inquired about the existing relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

In this context, the member of the Armenia-Poland Friendship Group Arman Yeghoyan noted that Azerbaijan wants to sign a Peace Treaty without peace. “We don’t see any sign of aspiration of peace on the ground and in the negotiations by Azerbaijan,” he said, adding that Azerbaijan is increasing its weaponry, has started circulating the term Western Azerbaijan, which, in their opinion, is today’s Armenia. They have developed an official strategy on how to return to Western Azerbaijan.

The member of the Armenia-Poland Friendship Group Seyran Ohanyan also emphasized the development of relations between the two countries, expressed gratitude to Poland for its support in these difficult times for Armenia and Artsakh. Seyran Ohanyan highlighted the presence of addressed and correct assessments by the international community, stressing that rhetoric and provocations by Azerbaijan do not indicate that Azerbaijan is in favor of peace in the region. Seyran Ohanyan also referred to the invasion by Azerbaijan of Armenia’s sovereign territory, strategic cooperation with the Russian Federation (RF). “We see that strategic cooperation in real terms, on the ground, strategically, in terms of maintaining security, as well as preventing future conflicts in our region,” he emphasized.

The member of the Armenia-Poland Friendship Group Hasmik Hakobyan addressed the issue, noting that in a difficult situation Armenia was left without the support of a strategic partner and security guarantor. “After the 44-day war, not once, in fact, at least three times, Azerbaijan attacked the sovereign territory of Armenia and had a territorial advance. In all these cases, the CSTO did not even give a political assessment that there was an attack on the sovereign territory of Armenia,” she said. According to the deputy, in all these cases, the Russian side only announced that negotiations with Azerbaijan are underway. As a result, Azerbaijan continued to remain in an advanced position.

At the meeting, the Armenian and Polish partners underscored the wide range of existing cooperation between the two countries, highlighting the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement regarding that matter.