French-Armenian Union in Support of Artsakh responds to Pashinyan`s  call for people of Artsakh to forget about returning to their  homeland

ArmInfo.  The French-Armenian Union in Support of Artsakh has responded to  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan' call for the people of Karabakh to renounce their right to return to their homeland.

The Union reminded Pashinyan that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict did  not arise because of territorial claims, but was a just struggle of  the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh to defend their fundamental rights  against discrimination, violence and the anti-Armenian policy pursued  by the Baku authorities.

"Protection and guarantee of human rights should be the priorities of  an independent and sovereign state.  Putting these rights on the back  burner does not strengthen, but, on the contrary, significantly  weakens national solidarity. No political reasons can justify the  sacrifice of fundamental human rights.

We realize that the Armenian authorities bear a heavy responsibility  for ensuring lasting peace. However, peace cannot be built on the  denial of the fundamental rights of a part of the Armenian people,  that  are unequivocally recognized by the International Court," the  statement says.

In this vein, the Union emphasized that the rights of the Armenians  of Karabakh cannot be annulled. "We will continue our activities and  urge all forces in Armenia and the Diaspora to unite efforts to  safeguard the fundamental rights of the Armenians of Karabakh," the  statement says.