French expert: Protection of stability in Caucasus should be priority for European countries

The protection of stability in the Caucasus should be a priority for European countries, Eric Gozlan, the Co-Director of the International Council for Diplomacy and Dialogue, told Report’s French bureau.

He said that Azerbaijanis have been subjected to genocide and ethnic cleansing many times throughout history: “They have been killed for being Azerbaijanis. The tragedy of Khojaly, the deportation of Azerbaijanis from Armenia in 1988-89 is an example of this. On March 31, 1918, Azerbaijanis were massacred for three days. While describing what happened in Baku, a German named Kulne wrote that Armenians did not feel sorry for either children or adults.”

The expert said that the Caucasus is a geopolitically complex region, and conflicts in this region can destabilize beyond its borders: “The Caucasus is a key region for energy transportation, especially oil and natural gas. Pipelines cross the region, transporting these resources to Europe and other international markets. Any conflict or instability in the region could lead to significant economic and geopolitical change and thus disrupt energy supplies.”

According to the expert, instability in the Caucasus can directly affect the security of Europe: “Armed conflicts or humanitarian crises in this region could lead to tensions between European countries and disruption of energy supply routes, affecting the security and stability of the continent.”