Brussels, May 6 – On the initiative of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy, Arthur Khachatryan, a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia from the “Hayastan” bloc (ARF member), paid a visit to Strasbourg, Brussels from May 2-6.
The National Assembly deputy and representatives of EAFJD had meetings with two dozen deputies from different parliamentary groups from different countries of the European Parliament. In particular, meetings were held with the Vice President of the European Parliament Eva Kaili (Greece, Socialists & Democrats), the Chair of the Delegation for Cooperation with the South Caucasus Marina Kaljurand (Estonia, Socialists & Democrats), Head of the delegation of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly Andrius Kubilius (Lithuania, European People’s Party), European Parliament Rapporteur on Armenia Andrey Kovatchev (Bulgaria, European People’s Party), as well as Head of the Friendship Group with Armenia in the European Parliament Lucas Fourlas (Cyprus, European People’s Party) and head of the Friendship Group with Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh Peter van Dalen (Netherlands, European People’s Party).
During the meetings, the issue of Artsakh was discussed, in particular, the anti-Armenian policy pursued by Azerbaijan, the ongoing military provocations in Artsakh (in particular, the tension in Khnapat-Khramort region, the establishment of Azerbaijani control over Parukh village and the Karaglukh hill), the psychological terror and causing humanitarian catastrophes, which goal is the eviction of Armenians from Artsakh. Arthur Khachatryan informed the MEPs about the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the aspirations of the Azerbaijani forces towards the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia. Special attention was paid to the issue of Armenian captives held in Azerbaijan. At the request of the interlocutors, Mr. Khachatryan presented the opposition’s approaches to the settlement of the Artsakh issue, emphasizing the importance to respect the right to self-determination of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh and the exclusion of any status of Artsakh within Azerbaijan. Mr. Khachatryan also briefed the MEP’s on the internal political situation in Armenia, the latest developments, raising the issue of disproportionate use of force against the protesters and journalists covering the protests.
A separate meeting was held with the Special Rapporteur on Azerbaijan Željana Zovko. The main topic during the meeting was the Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh conflict, as well as Azerbaijan’s anti-Armenian policy pursued at state level.
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The visit was summed up in Brussels with a round table discussion with the members of the Armenian National Committee of Belgium.