EU, Armenia talk support for displaced Karabakh Armenians

PanARMENIAN.Net - Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan met with Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Vassilis Maragos. They discussed the steps the Armenian Government has taken to address the needs of citizens forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh.

Khachatryan emphasized the importance of EU support in tackling humanitarian challenges.

On the issue of long-term needs, both sides stressed the ongoing importance of cooperation with international partners and civil society organizations. This collaboration aims to develop and implement effective programs that promote livelihoods and employment.

They also reviewed existing forms of bilateral cooperation and discussed possible ways to expand them.

On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale assault on Artsakh, subjecting the region to intense shelling. The next day, Artsakh authorities accepted a ceasefire proposal from the Russian peacekeeping mission, agreeing to Baku’s terms, including the disarmament of the Defense Army and the dissolution of the Republic of Artsakh. The mass displacement of Karabakh Armenians to Armenia began on September 24, with over 100,000 people forcibly displaced. Reports suggest only about 20 Armenians remain in Artsakh. On September 28, President Samvel Shahramanyan signed a decree to dissolve the Republic, effective January 1, 2024.