During the ongoing session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Political Affairs, Human Rights and Democracy in Yerevan, Armenian MP Artur Khachatryan (from the Hayastan faction) declared that EuroNest must demand the immediate release of Armenian prisoners of war held in Baku.
“Everyone wants peace; no one can say no to peace. However, for peace to last, it must be a just peace, grounded in justice,” Khachatryan said, according to Panorama.am .
He stressed that genuine justice requires the protection of both sides’ rights, which in turn demands mutual goodwill, something he claimed is absent on the Azerbaijani side.
“Unfortunately, we see no signs of goodwill from Azerbaijan. They continue to occupy over 200 square kilometers of sovereign Armenian territory, interfere in Armenia’s internal affairs, and set preconditions for peace such as amending Armenia’s Constitution, an act that contradicts principles established by international documents. Azerbaijan still uses the term ‘Zangezur corridor,’” he stated.
Khachatryan also drew attention to the fate of the displaced Armenian population from Nagorno-Karabakh, urging the international community not to ignore what happened there.
“Let’s not turn a blind eye to the ethnic cleansing, to the genocide committed by Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh. There isn’t a single Armenian left in Artsakh today; every one of them was forcibly displaced.
Is the civilized world, is Europe going to look the other way? Are we going to accept double standards, or will we demand that Azerbaijan ensure the safe and dignified return of the displaced population through international mechanisms?” he asked.
He also urged EuroNest to clearly address the issue of Armenian POWs and demanded their immediate and unconditional release.
“The Assembly must speak out and demand the release of prisoners without preconditions. I propose we send a message to Azerbaijan from this Assembly: such inhumane acts by the Azerbaijani fascist regime will not be tolerated,” Khachatryan declared.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan hosted members of the EuroNest Parliamentary Assembly Bureau in Yerevan, welcoming their visit and emphasizing the importance of holding the 12th plenary session in Armenia. He expressed hope for productive outcomes and stressed the value of active inter-parliamentary cooperation and dialogue.
