Council of Socialist International adopts resolution demanding safe return of Armenians to Artsakh and release of detainees

On February 24–25, the Council of the Socialist International held a meeting in Madrid at the headquarters of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), the Armenian Weekly reported.

Mario Nalpatian, a former member of the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun Bureau and a member of the Armenian National Committee – International, as well as one of the vice presidents of the Socialist International (SI), participated in the meetings of the Council and the Presidium.

President of the Socialist International and Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez referred to the Artsakh issue in his opening remarks.

At the meetings of the SI Presidium and Council, Nalpatian presented the situation and challenges caused by the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh by Azerbaijan’s genocidal actions and violence, as well as Azerbaijan’s threats and demands directed at the Republic of Armenia.

The SI Council adopted a resolution on the Artsakh issue, which states:

The Socialist International supports the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan aimed at signing a peace agreement. To contribute to the establishment of peace and stability in the region, such an agreement should be reached without the use of force or the threat of force, based on international law and diplomatic practice, including a commitment to an internationally sponsored peaceful process towards a final political settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh issue and the full realization of the fundamental rights and security of the people of Nagorno Karabakh on their ancestral territory.

The SI Council calls for the full realization of the fundamental rights of the people of Nagorno Karabakh, for the collective, unhindered, and safe return to their homeland, for the release of prisoners of war and detained persons, and for the complete and simultaneous lift of the blockades of transport and other means of communication without any restriction of sovereignty.