"Europeans for Artsakh" critical of RA government for attempting to  sow discord between Armenian diaspora and homeland

ArmInfo. The "Europeans for Artsakh" initiative issued a statement strongly condemning and expressing deep outrage at the recent statements by Armenian  parliament members from the ruling "Civil Contract" party, addressed  to the Armenian diaspora and organizations defending pan-Armenian  interests.

"Linking the strengthening of the Diaspora to the  weakening of Armenia is not only a dangerous misconception but also a  deeply divisive approach, attempting to pit two inseparable  components of the Armenian people against each other. We are deeply  concerned and strongly condemn the recent statements by a member of  the ruling party of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia,  addressed to the Armenian Diaspora and structures defending pan-  Armenian interests," the initiative stated.

"Europeans for Artsakh" emphasized that attempts to impose the thesis  of "strengthening the Diaspora at the expense of weakening Armenia"  are not only a dangerous misconception but also a deeply divisive  approach, attempting to pit two inseparable components of the  Armenian people against each other.

The initiative also called it unacceptable to present the work of  structures defending pan-Armenian interests as a phenomenon contrary  to the state interests of Armenia.

"For decades, their work, from international recognition of the  Armenian Genocide to advocacy for the rights of Armenians in Artsakh,  has been dedicated to the dignity, rights, and national interests of  the Armenian people. The position taken by today's authorities on the  issue of the Armenian Genocide is also particularly alarming and  condemnable, as it demonstrates dangerous evasiveness and diminishes  the significance of historical memory and the demands of the Armenian  people for justice. The fight for international recognition and  condemnation of the Armenian Genocide is not a political issue  subject to debate, but an integral part of the historical memory,  dignity, and rights of the Armenian people," the statement continued.

"Today, when the Armenians of Artsakh are being forcibly displaced  and Artsakh's Armenian heritage is under serious threat, we expected  from the representatives of the Armenian state not attacks on the  Diaspora, but national solidarity and joint efforts for a just  resolution of the Artsakh issue.

We reject the mentality that the interests of Armenia and the  Diaspora must be opposed. A strong Armenia and a strong Diaspora are  not contradictions, but two complementary pillars of the same  national strength," added Europeans for Artsakh.

It adds that Armenian citizens living in European countries and  Armenia's European partners friendly to the initiative must continue  to defend the rights of the Armenian people, the right of return of  the Armenians of Artsakh, the preservation of Armenian cultural  heritage, and the just demands of structures defending pan- Armenian  interests.

"No official statement can force us to renounce our historical  memory, the protection of national rights, or our responsibility to  Artsakh. The strength of Armenia and the Diaspora is the strength of  a single whole," the initiative concludes. The statement was signed  by: Karen Arevyan (England), Murad Papazian (France), Karen  Tadevosyan (Belgium), Noubar Vardanyan (the Netherlands), Jonathan  Spangenberg (Germany), Simon Ter-Sahakyan (Sweden), Nazar Avagyan  (Greece), Vahan Aynedjian (Cyprus), Sahak Chalykyan (Bulgaria),  Alexander Sargsyan (Czech Republic), Baykar Svazlyan (Italy), Zareh  Nazaryan (Romania), and Ararat Gukasyan - Spain.