The Issue of the Return of Artsakh Armenians Must Be on the Negotiation Table: Oskenyan

The Armenian side must bring the question of the collective return of the Artsakh Armenians, secured by international guarantees, to the negotiation table in response to Azerbaijan's persistent and unreasonable demands. This was stated by former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and head of the Committee for the Protection of Fundamental Rights of the Artsakh people, Vardan Oskenyan, in a post on his Facebook page, complementing the statement of the Committee made yesterday regarding the fundamental rights of the Artsakh people.

“There are all international-legal grounds for this demand. Moreover, when a part of the Armenian people is displaced from their homeland, only the realization of this issue will contribute to the establishment of real peace between peoples,” he wrote.

He also mentioned that the main task before the Committee will be the protection of the fundamental rights of the Artsakh Armenians, and primarily their collective return with international guarantees.

It is noted that the statement released yesterday clarified the preliminary composition of the Committee.

Members include:

• Vardan Oskenyan, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia (1998-2008)
• Gegham Stepanian, Human Rights Defender of Artsakh
• Karen Bekaryan, Chairman of the Board of the “Insight” Analytical Center
• Mario Nalpatyan, Member of the Central Council of the Armenian Cause, Argentina
• Gaspar Karampetyan, President of the European Armenian Cause Committee, Belgium
• Garnik Kirakosyan, International Lawyer, USA

Vardan Oskenyan stated that the committee will expand in order to have a broader geographical representation, with participants from Russia and the Middle East included.

It is remembered that on January 18, a statement was released announcing that the Committee for the Collective Return of the Artsakh People and Other Fundamental Rights would be headed by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Vardan Oskenyan.