1 / 2

On April 23, the NA Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Human Rights and on Equal Opportunities for Men and Women of the House of Representatives Sophoclis Fittis, who visited Armenia to take part in the Second Global Forum Against the Crime of Genocide.

The NA Deputy Speaker highly assessed the Armenian-Cypriot brotherly relations, underlining that the Armenian and Cypriot peoples are connected with common history and sysyem of values.

Eduard Sharmazanov talked about the problem of the Nagorno Karabakh (NK) conflict settlement, as well as the process of the Armenian Genocide recognition. He underlined with satisfaction the fact that Cyprus not only recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide, but also recognized a law criminalizing the denial of the Genocide. In Mr Sharmazanov’s word, the two friendly peoples see Turkey’s criminal policy, which is of continuous nature. In this context Eduard Sharmazanov has documented that Turkey, keeping Armenia under blockade unilaterally defends and supports Azerbaijan’s criminal policy. During the first days of April in Nagorno Karabakh the civilians became victims of Azerbaijani aggression, and soldiers were beheaded in ISIL style. Eduard Sharmazanov has underlined that the Karabakh people are very strong and were able to prevent the Azerbaijani aggression. He added that the Artsakh people will continue fighting for their freedom and independence, and Armenia as a guarantor of Artsakh people’s security, will assist the NK people in that struggle. Mr Sharmazanov expressed his gratitude to the authorities of Cyprus for voicing targeted assessment on the April events. In the statement of Cyprus’ Government it is distinctly noted that Azerbaijan is guilty, that country has unleashed the aggression.

In the course of the meeting the problems of Cypriot Armenians were touched upon. Sophoclis Fittis has underlined that in Cyprus the Armenian community is active and takes part in the public-political life of the country, keeping the national traditions and features. Talking about the works of the Global Forum, Mr Fittis expressed conviction that the Forum relates not only to the Armenians and the Armenian Genocide, but also to the peoples, who were forcibly deported from their settlements.

During the meeting the sides also emphasized the activation of the cooperation at international parliamentary platforms and supporting each other.