Armenian Spiritual and Political Party Representatives Issue an Urgent Call for Widespread Efforts in Support of Artsakh

Upon the invitation of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia and with the participation of the spiritual leaders and the representatives of the highest bodies of the three Armenian political parties, a special consultative meeting was held at the Catholicosate in Antelias, with the sole agenda of supporting the people of Artsakh.

The attendees were the following: Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church and MECC President for the Catholic Family His Beatitude Raphaël Bedros XXI, Acting President of the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East and MECC President for the Evangelical Family Reverend Paul Haidostian, representatives of the highest bodies of Armenian political parties, Hagop Der Khatchadourian (ARF), Dr. Avedis Dakessian (ADL) and Dr. Vazken Hamalian (SDHP), co-chairmen of the Central Committee of the Holy See of Cilicia, Stepan Der-Bedrossian and Krikor Mahserejian, and coordinator of the pan-Armenian conferences of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, Shahan Kandaharian.

The meeting was held amidst the most difficult circumstances for our homeland. The recent aggressive military and political actions by Azerbaijan emphasize the necessity of facing together threats to our nation’s existence.

The spiritual leaders and representatives of political parties shared their activities regarding the blockade of Artsakh, and exchanging their views and concerns of its humanitarian and political implications, confirmed the following points.

a) All our organizations and institutions must continue to unconditionally support Artsakh and the legitimate struggle of the Armenians of Artsakh for their historical rights.

b) We call upon all the political forces of Artsakh to unite around the key objectives and to prove once again the determination of the Artsakh people to resist the enemy to obtain their legitimate rights with a united spirit.

c) We call upon the Republic of Armenia to firmly attach to the right of self-determination of Artsakh during the negotiations.

d) To inform the international community that by besieging Artsakh, Azerbaijan has resorted to genocidal policy, aiming to depopulate Artsakh.

e) To appeal to all international courts and the international family to categorically condemn Azerbaijan's aspirations and to take all the necessary measures to secure the immediate lifting of the blockade of Artsakh. The party guaranteeing Artsakh’s freedom of movement alongside Armenia has a specific responsibility and obligation, which was assumed by the tripartite declaration of November 9, 2020.

f) To work with all the states involved in the process of resolving the Artsakh conflict to compel Azerbaijan to abide by the agreements already made and immediately open the Berdzor (Lachin) corridor.

g) Provide urgent aid to the people of Artsakh facing a humanitarian disaster, committing to work on a pan-Armenian scale.

All Armenians have a major and urgent priority today: to unite and carry out coordinated work to lift the blockade of Artsakh.

With the restoration of the Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora tripartite collaborative framework, all our spiritual, national, and political organizations and institutions must strive urgently to ensure Artsakh’s right to self-determination and to safeguard all the rights and security of the people of Artsakh.

Based on the principle of the tripartite collaboration, the spiritual leaders, and representatives of political parties call upon our communities to work together in all necessary directions to support the Armenians of Artsakh and ensure the lifting of the blockade of Artsakh.

This news was originally published on the website of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia Antelias, Lebanon - Facebook Page of the Armenian Catholic Catholicosate armeniancatholic.org - Facebook Page of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East.