Statement by Europeans for Artsakh
We, on behalf of the “Europeans for Artsakh” initiative, express our profound concern and unequivocally condemn the recent statements made by a member of the ruling faction in Armenia’s National Assembly targeting the Armenian Diaspora and organizations that defend pan-Armenian interests.
The Diaspora is neither a competitor of the Republic of Armenia nor a threat to Armenian statehood. The Diaspora is an inseparable part of the Armenian people’s collective national potential, through its organizations, communities, intellectuals, benefactors and decades of political and diplomatic work.
Therefore, linking the strengthening of the Diaspora to the weakening of Armenia is not only a dangerously mistaken perception, but also a deeply divisive approach that seeks to set two inseparable components of the Armenian people against each other.
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It is equally unacceptable to portray the work of organizations defending pan-Armenian interests as contrary to Armenia’s state interests. For decades, their work, from securing international recognition of the Armenian Genocide to defending the rights of the Armenians of Artsakh, has served the dignity, rights and collective national interests of the Armenian people.
The current authorities’ approach toward the Armenian Genocide is also particularly concerning and condemnable. It demonstrates a dangerous evasiveness and diminishes the importance of the Armenian people’s historical memory and demand for justice.
The struggle for the international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide is not a political issue subject to negotiation or compromise. It is an inseparable part of the Armenian people’s historical memory, dignity and rights.
Today, as the Armenian population of Artsakh has been forcibly displaced and Artsakh’s Armenian heritage faces a serious threat, we expected Armenia’s state representatives to promote national solidarity and unified efforts toward a just resolution of the Artsakh issue, rather than launch attacks against the Diaspora.
We reject the mentality that the interests of Armenia and the Diaspora must be set against one another. A strong Armenia and a strong Diaspora are not contradictory. They are two complementary pillars of the same national strength.
We, Armenian citizens living in European countries, together with our European partners who are friends of Armenia, will continue defending the rights of the Armenian people, the right of return of the Armenians of Artsakh, the preservation of Armenian cultural heritage and the legitimate demands of organizations defending pan-Armenian interests.
No official statement can compel us to abandon our historical memory, the defense of our national rights or our responsibility toward Artsakh.
The strength of Armenia and the Diaspora is the strength of one united whole.
Karen Tatevosyan — President of the Assembly of Armenians of Belgium
Sahak Chalekyan — Co-President of the Association of Armenian Organizations of Bulgaria
Alexander Sargsyan — President of the Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the Czech Republic
Vahan Ainejian — Chairman of the Armenian Diocesan Council of Cyprus
Nazar Avagyan — President of the Central Council of Armenians of Greece
Baykar Zavlyan — President of the Armenian Cultural Association of Italy
Ara Toranian — Co-President of the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF)
Mourad Papazian — Co-President of the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF)
Jonathan Spangenberg — President of the Central Council of Armenians in Germany
Nubar Vardanyan — Representative of the Armenian Community of Almelo
Zareh Nazaryan — Vice President of the Union of Armenians of Romania
Ararat Ghukasyan — Representative of the Armenian Community of Valencia
Sweden, Norway and Denmark
Simon Der-Sahakian — Co-Chair of the Armenian Union of Scandinavia
Garen Arevian — President of the Armenian Community Council of the United Kingdom