Conference dedicated to the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in the European Parliament

On April 18, at the initiative of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, the European Parliament held the conference on the "Commemorating the Armenian Genocide: Road to the Modern-Day Displacement," hosted by MEP Clare Daly.

In her speech, Clare Daly referred to the Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 against Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians. She pointed out that even after 100 years, similar crimes continue in different parts of the world, for example, in September 2023, when Azerbaijan carried out the ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armine Mkhitaryan, Third Secretary of the Mission, delivered remarks on behalf of Ambassador in Brussels Dr Tigran Balayan, during which she pointed out that in 1987 the European Parliament was one of the institutions that recognized the Armenian Genocide by adopting a relevant resolution, thus paving the way for others to do the same. She noted that although 109 years have passed since the Armenian Genocide, but last year, Azerbaijan carried out the ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh, in a gross violation of the legally binding decisions of the International Court of Justice and the international legal order, right in front of the eyes of the entire international community.

Ms Mkhitaryan touched upon the relevant EU toolbox, which should be used to its fullest extent in order to prevent similar crimes from happening and punish their organizers.

Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, Edita Gzoyan, comprehensively presented the history of the committed crimes, also addressing the legal framework of the issue.

Researcher of the Université libre de Bruxelles Anita Khachaturova shared the results of her research conducted during the blockade of the Lachin Corridor.

In his speech, former diplomat Vardan Barseghyan referred to the Genocide carried out in Nagorno-Karabakh last year, as well as touched upon the continuous destruction of the NK religious and cultural heritage. He emphasized the need to take concrete steps against Azerbaijan by the international community.