As a member of the Armenian delegation to the Federal Republic of Germany, we had a meeting in the Bundestag with the leadership of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom /Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit/ and members of the Bundestag MPs and political, public figures.
In my speech, I referred to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I spoke about the blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan, the right of the Artsakh people to self-determination.
I introduced them to the blockade of the Lachin corridor under the name of “eco-activists”, but even after the suspension of the operation of the Kashen mine by the Artsakh authorities, Azerbaijan still holds the only vital road connecting Artsakh to Armenia and the whole world, closed. And now, according to Azerbaijan Armenians transfer weapons to Artsakh, so the installation of scanners is needed.
I provided my colleagues in the Bundestag with the message of Gurgen Nersisyan, the State Minister of the Republic of Artsakh, as the opinion of the Government of Artsakh, that Artsakh is ready to neutralize Azerbaijani concerns and to consider the issue of installing scanners on any highway, street, road from Goris (near the village of Tegh)to Artsakh. This will give the opportunity to monitor any cargo sent to Artsakh. However, the Lachin corridor remains blockaded.
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In my speech, I especially thanked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for the statement that “a peaceful settlement of the Conflict should be achieved on the basis of the territorial integrity of Armenia and Azerbaijan and the right to self-determination of the citizens of the Nagorno-Karabakh”.
I emphasized that we, the Armenians, are one of the oldest nations of the world, and we have always struggled to live peacefully in our historical homeland. Azerbaijan, continuing its genocidal policy, today is trying to exterminate Artsakh Armenians in their homeland keeping 120 thousand Armenians hostage, creating inhumane conditions, depriving them of food, gas and electricity supply, targeting the civilian population.
In this context, the recognition of the right to self-determination of the people of Artsakh has no alternative, because the opposite will mean a new genocide of the Armenian people.
I emphasized the importance of the support of the civilized society in Artsakh, noting that France stands by Armenians, and the German Chancellor’s speech was inspiring. I asked the parliamentarians of Germany to give a legal process to the issue of the right to self-determination of the people of Artsakh, referring to the Chancellor’s speech.
During the discussion, we also touched upon issues related to democracy and freedom of speech in Armenia. I emphasized that free speech always needs protection, the struggle for freedom of speech is a daily process and, unfortunately, there are still problems in Armenia today.
“Freedom House” in its report among other records, mentioned:
▪️The targeting of journalists, dissidents and human rights activists by the Armenian government using spying devices,
▪️restrictions on media freedom by the authorities,
▪️physical violence against journalists…
In my speech, I drew parallels between Armenia moving on a democratic path and Azerbaijan, an aggressor with its genocidal policy, specifically noting that we’d like, of course, to talk and discuss the topic of women’s rights and equality in Armenia, but Azerbaijan, killed Armenian women, tortured their bodies, made engravings on women’s corpses during the September aggression in 2022…
We could discuss issues related to various conventions or democracy in general, but Azerbaijan is opening fire on Armenian civilians doing agricultural work, occupying the territories where I have spent my childhood…
In the end, highlighting Germany’s efforts to close the “Military Trophy Park” dedicated to the 44-day Artsakh war which has been opened in Baku, I also emphasized the importance of the continuation of the European Union’s efforts to punish the aggressor Azerbaijan and deter its genocidal policy.
Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs, nonpartisan Taguhi Tovmasyan
