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At June 22 Session of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons of PACE Summer Session, within the framework of the debate of the resolution ‘Ensuring free and safe access through the Lachin Corridor’ the speech of the Full Member of Armenian delegation to PACE Armen Gevorgyan as General Rapporteur on local and regional authorities was published on PACE official website. The speech says:

Mr President:

Today I am taking the floor to ensure that no one claims “how could we know?” in the future.

Due to obvious inaction by many governments, civil society groups and political circles in the democratic Europe, the authoritarian regime of Azerbaijan very openly and almost daily creates conditions for the Armenian people in Nagorno Karabakh making civilian life there impossible. Today, 120.000 Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh are de facto isolated from civilised world and face the risk of extermination.

We cannot tolerate that the indigenous people and their European Christian heritage are wiped off the heavenly land of Nagorno Karabakh. The historical heritage of Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh is indeed a treasure of all humanity and Christian, European civilisation, isn't it? Over and above, other notable representatives of my people, such as Charles Aznavour, Henri Verneuil, Calouste Gulbenkian, Giorgio Armani, the Armenian Catholic congregation Mekhitarists in Venice and Vienna, and many others elsewhere have been and are still crafting heritage that belongs to the Europe as a whole. They were convinced that Europe, that once became their new homeland, would step in to prevent new genocides of the Armenian people. To avoid new human calamity in Europe we have to make sure Nagorno Karabakh is integrated into international community, so that the heritage of these people becomes the heritage of wider community of nations.

Mr. President,

Let me put forward two main reasons why it is important to vote in favour of this resolution and the recommendations. First, it clearly demands from the authorities in Azerbaijan to end the 170-day inhumane blockade of Nagorno Karabakh and live up to their international obligations. Second, the recommendation takes note of the unacceptable language and rhetoric employed by Azerbaijani leadership against Armenians, which I hope the Committee of Ministers will hear.

Dear Colleagues,

everyone knows how much effort the delegation of Azerbaijan made to fail today's debate. They seek shelter at this organization to undermine the others and the decisions of reputable international courts. Despite two international court orders, the blockade is still there. For many years, we have been presenting that Azerbaijani state policy aims to ethnically cleanse and otherwise spread hatred and discrimination against Armenians. Now the UN Court has testified to that. That is why, it is important that our organization would avoid the factually incorrect and historically inaccurate claims that could present Nagorno Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan and the future of this region being as a domestic affair.

Dear colleagues,

For thousands of years Armenians keep their national dignity and identity. We witnessed the demise of many other empires and ethnicities. This time around too we will be able to overcome the challenges that my people is facing. I hope also with your support.”