Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
 Tuesday


European figures' visit to Artsakh will continue - Gaspar Karapetyan



YEREVAN, JULY 11, ARMENPRESS. The European Armenian Federation for
Justice and Democracy will continue informing the MEPs and lawmakers
of the parliaments of European countries about attacks and ceasefire
violations on the border by Azerbaijan, Gaspar Karapetyan – Chairman
of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy, told
Armenpress.

According to him, one must not rule out the possibility of new actions
similar to the April 2016 atrocities, however, everything must be done
to prevent them.

-Like last year this year as well the European Armenian Federation for
Justie and Democracy continued organizing the visit of European
lawmakers, public groups to Artsakh. Will such visits continue?

-Yes, these visits continue and must continue since Artsakh is one of
the most important missions of our current activity. Several days
before we have organized the visit of Belgian lawmakers to Armenia and
Artsakh. They had meetings with high-ranking officials. This visit was
the third in 2017. Over the past two years 22 Belgian lawmakers have
visited Armenia and Artsakh.

The positive results of these delegations can be seen later during
their activity in Europe, be it about the process of protecting the
Artsakh people’s right to self-determination, be it in the form of
participating in various events organized by us, for instance,
“Artsakh-Nagorno Karabakh hidden treasure” exhibition organized by the
European Armenian Federation which was attended by 200 people,
political figures. The exhibition aimed at presenting Artsakh’s
tourism opportunity, as well as the capacity of economic investments
to the European public.

-Mr. Karapetyan, how would you comment on the recent events in the
Artsakh-Azerbaijani border? What steps does the European Armenian
Federation for Justice and Democracy take to inform the international
community about the authenticity of the Azerbaijani provocative
policy?

-It’s not the first time in the history that Azerbaijan uses its own
population as a human shield. Of course, the death of an innocent
child is a tragic phenomenon, however, this child is the victim of
Azerbaijan’s government and Aliyev’s inhumane treatment. We witnessed
Aliyev’s inhumane treatment during the April war when the bodies of
90-year-old Armenian civilians of Talish village were tortured as a
result of crimes committed by the Azerbaijani army and the Armenian
soldiers were beheaded in Islamic State-style. The OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs call on to cease military operations and return to
negotiation table, however, this is not enough. The OSCE Minsk Group
must also mention the side who violates the ceasefire and condemn it.

Following the release of statement by the Artsakh Defense Ministry,
the European Armenian Federation immediately informed the MEPs about
the authenticity of the recent ceasefire violations by Azerbaijan on
the border. And then some members publicly condemned this policy of
Azerbaijan.

Full version of the interview available in Armenian.

Interview by Anna Gziryan