On occasion of the 21st anniversary of Armenian pogroms in Baku, the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy stated that even though the Republic of Armenia has offered the refugees shelter and citizenship, many of these people still live in dire social conditions, and are deprived of the International Refugee status.

“While meeting with the EU Special Representative Peter Semneby, we addressed their helpless situation in Armenia and Karabakh. We plan to pursue our actions for an official initiative of the European Union in this regard,” said Hilda Tchoboian, President of the European Armenian Federation.

The Federation also informs that on these sad days, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, far from honoring the memory of the innocent victims, increased his anti-Armenian aggressive rhetoric, by stating that Yerevan is Azerbaijani land in his New Year address to the nation.

“With the military buildup, warlike statements and claims to Armenian land, Aliyev discredits the principle of good faith in the Karabakh conflict settlement process,” Mrs. Tchoboian said.

“On the same days, the President of the European Commission, Mr. Barroso, visited Baku; and he too, failed to honor the memory of the Armenian victims,” she said. “We call on Mr. Barroso not to sacrifice our core values for oil and gas deals, but instead, raise them as a wall against Azerbaijan’s delusional rhetoric.”