The speech of Armen Gevorgyan, a permanent member of the RA NA delegation, General Rapporteur on local and regional authorities of the PACE, was published on the PACE official website within the framework of the discussion of the resolution “Ensuring free and safe access through the Lachin Corridor” at the PACE summer session held on 22 June.

“Mister President,

Today I am taking the floor to ensure that no one claims “how could we know?” in the future.

Due to the obvious inaction by many governments, civil society groups and political circles in the democratic Europe, the authoritarian regime of Azerbaijan very openly and almost daily creates conditions for the Armenian people in Nagorno-Karabakh, making civilian life there impossible.

Today, 120 000 Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh are de facto isolated from the civilised world and face the risk of extermination.

We cannot tolerate that the indigenous people and their European Christian heritage are wiped off the heavenly land of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The historical heritage of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh is indeed a treasure of all humanity and Christian, European civilisation, isn’t it?

Over and above, other notable representatives of my people, such as Mr Charles Aznavour, Mr Henri Verneuil, Mr Calouste Gulbenkian, Mr Giorgio Armani, the Armenian Catholic congregation Mekhitarists in Venice and Vienna, and many others elsewhere have been and are still crafting heritage that belongs to the Europe as a whole. They were convinced that Europe, that once became their new homeland, would step in to prevent new genocides of the Armenian people. To avoid new human calamity in Europe, we have to make sure that Nagorno-Karabakh is integrated into the international community, so that the heritage of these people becomes the heritage of wider community of nations.

Mister President,

Let me put forward two main reasons why it is important to vote in favour of this resolution and the recommendations.

First,

It clearly demands from the authorities in Azerbaijan to end the 170-day inhumane blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh and live up to their international obligations.

Second,

The recommendation takes note of the unacceptable language and rhetoric employed by Azerbaijani leadership against Armenians, which I hope the Committee of Ministers will hear.

Dear colleagues,

Everyone knows how much effort the delegation of Azerbaijan made to fail today’s debate. They seek shelter at this Organisation to undermine the others and the decisions of reputable international courts.

Despite two international court orders, the blockade is still there.

For many years, we have been presenting that Azerbaijani state policy aims to ethnically cleanse and otherwise spread hatred and discrimination against Armenians. Now the UN Court has testified to that. That is why, it is important that our Organisation would avoid the factually incorrect and historically inaccurate claims that could present Nagorno-Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan, and the future of this region being as a domestic affair.

Dear colleagues,

For thousands of years, Armenians have kept their national dignity and identity. We witnessed the demise of many other empires and ethnicities. This time around too, we will be able to overcome the challenges that my people is facing. I hope also with your support.”