People of Nagorno-Karabakh determined to return to their homeland -  Leevon Kocharyan

ArmInfo.The member of the RA NA delegation to Inter- Parliamentary Union, the deputy of the  Armenia Faction Levon Kocaryan gave a speech at the 148th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

"Dear Colleagues,

It has been sixth months since the armed forces of Azerbaijan  attacked and conquered the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Indeed, on  September 19, 2023, after enduring nearly 10 months of a blockade  that caused mass starvation, deprivation, illness, and death, and now  faced with imminent destruction, over 120,000 Armenians, virtually  the entire population, were forced to leave their homeland in just a  few days.

I followed the events in my birthplace from Armenia with great  concern and pain as my childhood memories of taking shelter for days  and weeks from Azerbaijani aerial bombardments in the early 1990s  were reanimated. The people of Nagorno-Karabakh have an ancient and  profound connection to their homeland, with historical evidence  dating back centuries. Generations have lived, worked, and built  their lives in this region, establishing a rich cultural heritage  that binds them to the land.

Despite the challenges, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh remain  resolute in their determination to return to their homeland, to  determine their political future, and to exercise their own  democratic self-governance.  Under Articles of the International  Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Armenians of Nagorno-  Karabakh have the absolute right to return to their homeland. The  International Court of Justice ruled on November 17 last year that  Azerbaijan must "ensure" that the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh are  able to return in a "safe, unimpeded, and expeditious manner."

On March 12, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on  Azerbaijan to "genuinely engage in a comprehensive and transparent  dialogue with the Karabakh Armenians to ensure respect for their  rights and guarantee their security, including their right to return  to and live in their homes in dignity and safety under international  presence." Achieving enduring peace in the region remains  unattainable when the Nagorno-Karabakh people are forcefully uprooted  from their homeland and a coerced notion of "peace" is imposed upon  Armenia.

Facilitating the return of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to their  homeland under international protection and guarantees is essential  for promoting lasting peace and stability in the region and this  notion must be incorporated into the peace agreement between Armenia  and Azerbaijan. Indeed, recognizing and safeguarding the right of  return is not only a matter of justice and human rights but also  essential for promoting peace, stability, and reconciliation in the  region. It requires a concerted effort by the international community  to uphold the principles of international law and ensure the dignity  and rights of all individuals affected by the conflict.

Thank you," Levon Kocharyan said.