On 15 September 2023 the presidents of the representative Armenian communities from: Belgium, France, Germany, Sweden, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus and UK gathered in an online meeting to discuss the next steps of the ‘’Europeans for Artsakh’’ initiative. The members of the initiative reaffirmed their unwavering support for the indigenous Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh and their fundamental right to self-determination as an existential matter in the face of Azerbaijan’s ongoing policy of ethnic cleansing. It was emphasized that for the native Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh/Artsakh the right to self-determination equals to nothing less than their right to life, safety and dignity in their own homeland.
During the meeting, several key objectives were discussed. The main focus was the pan-European protest to take place in Brussels on 1 October. The demonstration aims at raising awareness in Europe about the ongoing total blockade illegally imposed by Azerbaijan on the native Armenian population of Artsakh and to demand the European authorities take effective action to address this disaster. The protest is to serve as a rallying point for European Armenians and advocates of human rights to express their concerns towards the European authorities as well as to demand action in alignment with declared values. Besides the Brussels protests, the Armenian communities also plan their own rallies in their respective European countries on the same day.
The members of the “Europeans for Artsakh” initiative aim at making the voice of the indigenous Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh/Artsakh heard through collective action and persistent advocacy. As European citizens who firmly believe in inviolability of human rights, the members of this platform also expect the EU and the UK leadership to use all the effective leverage at their disposal to stop Azerbaijan’s destructive policy both towards the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian population of Artsakh. Further actions will be communicated in due time.
The “Europeans for Artsakh” initiative is a pan-European collaborative platform created by the representatives of Armenian communities across Europe. It aims to protect the fundamental rights of the indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh, raise awareness in Europe about the challenges that the native Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh/Artsakh is facing because of Azerbaijan’s destructive policy, and to engage European political institutions in addressing these challenges.
For more information, visit www.europeansforartsakh.eu