Mission of MEPs to Nagorno-Karabakh

The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy announced that a delegation of Members of the European Parliament visited Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh from 27th to 31st October, in order to investigate the Karabakh conflict.

During their stay, Mrs Michele Rivasi (member of Euronest Delegation, from Greens/European Free Alliance Group) and Mr Damien Abad (member of Euronest and the EU-South Caucasus Parliamentary delegation, from the European Popular Party), accompanied by the European Parliament staff, clarified the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"It is unacceptable that hundreds of thousands of Armenian victims of the pogroms and deportations organised by Azerbaijan, are deprived of the international statute of refugee” declared Mrs Rivasi. She proposed the implementation of an international investigation on the atrocities against the Armenians which led to the conflict.

“I think that the OSCE Minsk Group remains the best format to find a peaceful and sustainable solution to the conflict” added Damien Abad. He stressed the importance for France to fully play its role in the co-presidency of the Minsk group, along with Russia and the United States.

The MEPs proposed to study the possibility of an assistance to the population of Nagorno-Karabakh in the fields of environment, energy and education. “This European aid exists in the South Caucasus region for Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but it is refused in Nagorno-Karabakh” commented Hilda Tchoboian, the Chairperson of the European Armenian Federation. She underlined the fact that Nagorno-Karabakh declared its independence in accordance with the Internal Law of the Soviet Union and with the full respect of the principles of the International law.

“All around the world, the European Union spreads gigantic efforts in order to help the States to improve their democratic and good governance record. It is inconceivable that the EU continues to ignore the efforts of the Nagorno-Karabakh authorities to create a Rule of law” declared Hilda Tchoboian. “We await from the members of the European Parliament a comeback to the EP’s last resolutions’ spirit, in favour of Nagorno-Karabakh’s right to self-determination, and measures to break the political blockade of the Nagorno-Karabakh” concluded Hilda Tchoboian.

The European Armenian Federation expressed its satisfaction regarding the fulfilling meetings which allowed the MEPs to complete their knowledge about the Karabakh conflict in all its judicial, political and humanitarian dimensions.
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Appendix

Meetings in the Nagorno-Karabakh with
- The President, Bako Sahakian
- The President of the National Assembly, Ashot Ghoulian
- The leaders of the parliamentary groups
- The presidents of the associations of Armenian refugees in Sumgait, Baku, Kirovabad, Minkechaour and Shahumian.

In Armenia
Visit to the Dzidzernakabert Monument, Genocide Institute

Meetings with
- The Minister of Foreign Affairs Edouard Nalbandian
- The Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to the Republic of Armenia, Raul de Luzenberger
- The Ambassador of France to Armenia, Henri Reynaud
- The President of the Assembly of Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan, Grigory Ayvazian At the National Assembly
- The President, Hovik Abrahamian - The leaders of the parliamentary groups
- The President of the External relations Committee, Armen Rustamyan
- The President of the Euronest Delegation, Vahan Hovhannisyan
- The Chairwoman of the European Integration Committee, Naïra Zourabian
- The President of the France-Armenia Parliamentary group, Ara Babloyan

S.Mod.