The head of Armenian delegation to PACE Hermine Naghdalyan sent two important messages during her speech at the PACE summer session on Thursday.

Ms. Naghdalyan called for direct contacts between the Assembly and Nagorno-Karabakh and spoke about a responsibility to launch an international campaign against genocides

In her speech she also responded to groundless remarks by the Azerbaijani delegates.

“I will first give a short reaction to my colleague from Azerbaijan about there not being a single word about the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenia. It is simply not true. Interestingly, my colleague from Azerbaijan conveniently forgot to mention the judgment against Azerbaijan on the same subject. Furthermore, there are a number of judgments against Azerbaijan where the court called on Azerbaijan to release journalists, political activists and the director of the Council of Europe school in Baku. Apparently, those judgments are not of interest to my colleague from Azerbaijan who opts to disseminate false information about court judgments.

I have two messages to present to your attention. Recently, at the request of my colleagues from the Parliament of Nagorno-Karabakh, I sent you a statement by the factions of the National Assembly of the Nagorno-Karabakh republic about the future and the willingness of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to build their country in co-operation with this body, the principles and values of which are shared by them. It is unfair to neglect people because of the status of their republic. They are part of Europe; they are part of a young democracy, which can never become part of the country that is ruled by an inherited autocratic regime. The republic even conducted elections that, according to a number of international observers, fully met democratic standards, Nagorno-Karabakh needs us in the development and strengthening of its democratic institutions. All of you – leaders of the Assembly, chairs of the political groups, and representatives of 47 countries – please read the statement of the National Assembly carefully and feel the desire of the people of the republic.

Our Assembly could initiate direct contacts with Nagorno-Karabakh, irrespective of its status, aimed at promoting human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law. The Council of Europe has similar experience in other parts of Europe and the world. Let us forget about double standards for a while and let the humanitarian and democratic values lead us.

My second message is about the initiative of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia. This year, we mark the centennial of the Armenian genocide. We are thankful to the countries and international organisations that showed support and expressed sympathy. It is important for us to feel that, finally, we are not alone, and that the international community and our friends stand by us.

One hundred years later the world is not safe from genocides. If the first genocide of the 20th century had been recognised and condemned, we could have avoided the occurrences of new crimes against humanity. As a nation that survived genocide, we feel a responsibility to launch an international campaign against genocides.”