The Ombudsman of Artsakh Disappointed by Charles Michel's Statement

It is highly disappointing that the European Union, represented by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, addresses the people of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) as "Armenians residing in the former NKR," disregarding the fundamental and inalienable right to self-determination and the decades-long existence of Artsakh's statehood. This was stated by the Ombudsman of Artsakh, Gegham Stepanyan.

“Such phrasing, which is deliberately used by an organization that defends human rights values worldwide, not only offends the feelings of Artsakh residents but also has a destructive impact on the peace process for resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by ignoring the rights of its main stakeholder—the people of Artsakh,” wrote the Ombudsman.

He also added that ignoring the will and interests of the people of Artsakh and deliberately avoiding the term Nagorno-Karabakh undoubtedly does not contribute to the ongoing peaceful negotiations initiated by the EU, but rather paves the way for the forcible subjugation of Artsakh to a hate-fueled, authoritarian state—Azerbaijan.

It should be recalled that President Charles Michel wrote on his Twitter account that he looks forward to the continuation of Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations in Chișinău with President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.