On July 17, the Belgian Chamber of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution condemning Azerbaijan’s military attack on Nagorno-Karabakh’s Armenian population and violations of international law, Armenpress reports.
The resolution states that Azerbaijan’s actions against Nagorno-Karabakh and its Armenian residents contradict the foundations of international law. Lawmakers emphasized that lasting peace in the region is only possible if Armenia and Azerbaijan mutually respect each other’s territorial integrity.
The resolution explicitly condemned the rhetoric and threats made by Azerbaijani authorities in the context of the "Western Azerbaijan" narrative.
It also addressed the unlawful detention and opaque trials of former Nagorno-Karabakh leaders by Baku. The resolution strongly denounces these actions and calls for the release of all Armenian prisoners and the guarantee of fair trials.
The Chamber demanded that Azerbaijan ensure the protection of Nagorno-Karabakh’s cultural and religious heritage and called on Baku to allow a UNESCO mission to assess damages in the region.
The resolution welcomed peace treaty efforts and underlined the urgency of signing such an agreement. It called on all parties to respect the treaty’s provisions.
It further urged the Belgian government to support international investigations into war crimes, expand consular presence in Armenia, and deepen humanitarian and defense cooperation with Yerevan.
The resolution also called on the European Union to impose targeted sanctions on human rights violators, expand the EU monitoring mission in Armenia, and reassess EU-Azerbaijan relations if Baku fails to show genuine commitment to peace.
Co-author of the resolution, MP Michel De Maegd, emphasized that Azerbaijan continues to impose new preconditions for peace, while Armenia remains open to dialogue and demands only one thing—respect for its sovereignty.
“We must remain on the side of law and justice. Belgium must continue supporting Armenia and strengthen bilateral cooperation. This vote marks a crucial step in that direction and a testament to the friendship between our peoples,” he said.
On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan launched a full-scale offensive on Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), bombarding the region. A day later, local authorities agreed to a ceasefire under Russian peacekeepers’ mediation, meeting Baku’s conditions for disarmament and the dissolution of the Artsakh Republic. Forced displacement began on September 24, with over 100,000 Armenians fleeing to Armenia. By some accounts, fewer than 20 Armenians remained in Artsakh. On September 28, Artsakh’s President Samvel Shahramanyan signed a decree on dissolution, effective January 1, 2024.
