On September 28, Speaker of the RA National Assembly Alen Simonyan met with the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Tina Koxin in Dublin.
At the request of the PACE President and the Speaker of the RA National Assembly, they presented data on the fate of Armenians forcibly evacuated from Nagorno-Karabakh and the violation of their rights, recalling the fact that Lachin was under siege for months due to the blockade of the corridor and was subjected to a large-scale Azerbaijani attack.
“As a result, hundreds of killed and wounded, including among the civilian population, women and children. Thousands of people were forcibly displaced and left homeless without food, shelter, other means and first aid,” stressed RA NA Speaker: Alen Simonyan noted that the basis of Azerbaijani policy is the complete elimination of the Armenian traces and cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh, which we are still witnessing after the 44-day war, and these days this policy is being implemented in full swing: He emphasized that many people are moving from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia , whose needs are currently being met by the Armenian government on its own, adding at the same time that the assistance of friendly states is needed: Aggressive actions against Nagorno Karabakh against Azerbaijan were considered by the interlocutors as the ultimate goal of implementing the depopulation program, as a result of which the people were deprived of freedom and dignity in their own homeland from the right to life: the RA NA Speaker highly appreciated the statement of the PACE President condemning the recent military operations in Nagorno-Karabakh.
It was pointed out that Azerbaijan not only ignores its obligations to the Council of Europe but also nullifies the efforts of international partners to establish stability and peace in the South Caucasus. Alen Simonyan emphasized that the structures of the Council of Europe should visit Nagorno-Karabakh and observe the prevailing situation the problems related to human rights, record the people’s grievances, and find possible solutions.
He relied on PACE’s support in sending the Assembly’s fact-finding mission to Nagorno-Karabakh.
“Despite the devastating situation created around Nagorno-Karabakh, until now, Azerbaijan has not fulfilled the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights regarding the return of Armenian prisoners of war and other civilians; a part of Armenia’s sovereign territories is still under the illegal control of Azerbaijan,” the head of the parliament reminded.
He stressed that Armenia’s position remains the same. Establish peaceful relations based on mutual recognition of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Tina Cox informed that the autumn session of the PACE, which will be held on October 1, will discuss issues related to Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia.
The delegation headed by the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia consists of deputies Arsen Torosyan and Sona Ghazaryan.
