Co-rapporteurs responsible for monitoring the implementation of Armenia’s obligations of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Kimmo Kiljunen from Finland and Boriana Åberg from Sweden were on a fact-finding mission in the Syunik region on February 18. They were accompanied by the Vice President of the National Assembly, Ruben Rubinyan. Syunik Marz Governor Robert Ghukasyan, welcoming the guests in the Noravan settlement, accompanied them to Goris.
The co-rapporteurs first met the Artsakh residents who took refuge in Syunik due to the closure of the Berdzor road. “We are here on a fact-finding mission to find out what is happening on the Armenia-Artsakh border. We want to listen to you, to understand your feelings to present them in our reports,” said Kimmo Kiljunen, inviting the people of Artsakh to a sincere conversation. The latter also half-jokingly and half-seriously urged the people of Artsakh not to take into account that the vice president of the Armenian Parliament and the Governor of Syunik are present at the meeting.
“What we say, no matter how good we feel here, they are doing everything so that we don’t lack anything, but we want our home; our relatives are there,” said Suren Petrosyan. “Europe, America, the world are calling to open the way. If appeals do not help, take another route. If you can’t, let us open in our ways,” said Petrosyan, addressing the co-reporters. Mrs. Marcela mentioned that she is from Martuni and now lives in Stepanakert. Three months ago, Marcela came to Armenia for treatment. According to her, she “received the radiation” and has not been able to return home until today.
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“Two persons from Martuni died here; the Azerbaijanis did not let them take the corpses and bury them in their graves. Is it normal?” said Mrs. Marcela. The co-rapporteurs were interested in how they communicate and keep in touch with their relatives in Artsakh. “We see them only on the Internet, on the phone, and we miss them, but no matter how much there is a blockade, there are no products in the stores, we want to return to our homeland. Artsakh is not just a land for us; it is our homeland,” said the people of Artsakh. After the meeting with the people of Artsakh, Kimmo Kiljunen and Boriana Åberg wanted to see with their own eyes if the road leading to Artsakh was closed. Arriving in Berdzor, they tried to get permission from the police officers on duty and move forward to Artsakh. However, the Artsakh police officers forbade them. “What will happen if I pass?” asked Mr. Kiljunen.
“The road is closed; it is forbidden to move forward from here,” insisted the police. The co-rapporteurs noticed that one car with a Russian license plate was allowed to pass. “Why did you open the blockade?” PACE representatives asked. “They control the road, serve, have the right,” answered the Artsakh policemen. Goris community Head Arush Arushanyan and NA Deputy Arusyak Julhakyan accompanied the PACE representatives.
Armen DAVTYAN
