Armen Sarkissian Hosts a Group of Hadrut Citizens Seeking Asylum in Armenia

The press service of the President of the Republic informs that Armen Sarkissian today hosted a group of Hadrut citizens who have found asylum in Armenia after being displaced due to the Azerbaijani-Turkish military aggression against Artsakh.

“We all share pain, but it is incomparable to what you, your families, and your loved ones are enduring,” the president said. “Every Armenian around the world carries a heavy burden, but that burden is certainly not comparable to yours. We must do everything to rise together, from Armenia to Artsakh, to walk a difficult path without becoming a defeated people, state, or nation. These are my words of consolation because I have no other at this moment. It is essential that we remain united as a nation and a state. We must work to do everything possible.”

Regarding blaming each other and arguing, he noted, “This will lead us nowhere, except to great misfortune. Let us try to rise again, to help each other.”

The Hadrut citizens hosted at the presidential residence shared their concerns and disagreements about recent events, mentioning that they have reached out to international organizations and embassies. They reported that their demands are summarized in four main points: to examine the issue of the de-occupation of Hadrut, to make every effort to include Hadrut's issues and all related problems in the agenda of the OSCE Minsk Group negotiations, to elevate the issue of the displaced from Hadrut to a legal level, and to address the preservation of Hadrut's historical and cultural monuments.

Stating that he had no connection to the ceasefire document, President Sarkissian remarked, “It is painful for me, as my diplomatic and negotiation experience over the years was not utilized.” He noted that one of the first steps today should be to “return the Nagorno-Karabakh issue to the negotiation phase with the OSCE Minsk Group. Ultimately, the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh will be determined by the OSCE Minsk Group. We must invest all our potential, both political and diplomatic, to bring the issue back to the Minsk Group. Only this can be the mechanism that should work for the preservation of our historical, spiritual, and cultural heritage. The platforms could be the OSCE Minsk Group, UNESCO, and other international entities.”

When asked how the Hadrut citizens could contribute to this process, President Sarkissian replied, “You must make your voices heard; under no circumstances should your voice be lost. You may not be able to negotiate, but your voice must exist. You need to organize and ensure that your problems and demands are factual. I am with you.”

Noting that there are significant humanitarian issues today, the president emphasized the importance of resolving these through various programs.