Artsakh Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan meets with EU-Armenia Friendship Group in Brussels

BRUSSELS—The Foreign Minister of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Karen Mirzoyan, who is in Belgium leading a parliamentary delegation, on Tuesday met with the leadership of the EU-Armenia Friendship Group headed by the president of the group Eleni Theocharous.

During the meeting, a wide range of issues related to Artsakh-Europe relations, the resolution of the Karabakh conflice and other egional processes were discussed.

On the same day Mirzoyan met with the President of the Friendship group with Artsakh in the European Parliament Frank Engel and other members of the group. During the meeting, a number of issues related to the activity of the friendship group were discussed. The sides highlighted the importance of deepening ties with various European structures, including the European Parliament.

Later in the day, Mirzoyan, as a keynote speaker, delivered a speech at a round-table organized by Frank Engel entitled “Nagorno Karabakh Republic: 25 years of state-building in a volatile region” at the European Parliament.

In his speech, the Mirzoyan said that 25 years ago the people of Nagorno Karabakh voted for independence during a nation-wide referendum, which became the logical continuation of Artsakh liberation struggle in response to decades of discrimination and oppression by Azerbaijan.

“In spite of the peaceful and legitimate nature of the Karabakh movement, from the very beginning Azerbaijan rejected any dialogue and resorted to the language of threats and intimidation which led to a large-scale war against Nagorno Karabakh and its peaceful population,” Mirzoyan said.

He stressed that even today the people of Artsakh literally have to defend the young democracy in the conditions of constant attempts of Azerbaijan to return Nagorno Karabakh to the past. Mirzoyan added that the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has repeatedly spoken out publicly about Azerbaijan openly preparing for the resumption of war, however, the international community has not reacted to these warnings. The impunity enjoyed by Azerbaijan led to the resumption of hostilities against Nagorno Karabakh on April 2.

Mirzoyan stressed that the people of Artsakh cannot remain hostage to the destructive policy of Azerbaijan and will continue to develop even in the conditions of the unresolved Karabakh conflict. In this regard the Foreign Minister mentioned that the Artsakh authorities attach great importance to the expansion and deepening of foreign relations of the republic at all levels, especially its integration into the international processes.

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan meets with EAFDJ leaders in Brussels

Mirzoyan expressed confidence that expansion of the international cooperation will be an important contribution to strengthening peace and security in the region.

“We believe that the time has come for the international community to support our struggle. It’s time to recognize and support the reality – existence and consistent development of the free and democratic Nagorno Karabakh Republic”, Karen Mirzoyan concluded.

Mirzoyan arrived in Belgium on Sunday and on Monday he met with the chairman of European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) Kaspar Karampetian and members of the organization at the EAFJD Brussels Office.

During the meeting, Mirzoyan praised the high level of cooperation with the EAFJD and underscored the importance of its activity aimed at advocating the interests of Artsakh in Europe.