{"id":13120,"date":"2017-09-02T12:26:58","date_gmt":"2017-09-02T12:26:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ancnews.info\/?p=13120"},"modified":"2017-09-02T12:26:58","modified_gmt":"2017-09-02T12:26:58","slug":"%d6%84%d5%a1%d5%b6%d5%a1%d5%bf%d5%a1%d5%b5%d5%ab-%d5%ad%d5%b8%d6%80%d5%b0%d6%80%d5%a4%d5%a1%d6%80%d5%a1%d5%b6%d5%a1%d5%af%d5%a1%d5%b6-%d5%ba%d5%a1%d5%bf%d5%b8%d6%82%d5%ab%d6%80%d5%a1%d5%af%d5%b8%d6%82","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ancnews.info\/?p=13120","title":{"rendered":"Canadian Parliamentary Delegation Concludes Visit to Artsakh, Reiterates Commitment to Artsakh Peace"},"content":{"rendered":"

Stepanakert, Artsakh \u2013 \u201c On September 1, 2017, a Canadian delegation headed by Rev. Majed el-Shafie, founder and president of One Free World International, and Members of Parliament the Hon. Tony Clement and Ms. Rachael Harder\u00e2\u20ac\u201d shadow ministers of Public Services and Procurement and the Status of Women, respectively, concluded their four-day fact-finding mission to the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh. Accompanying the delegation was the Republic of Artsakh\u2019s permanent representative in North America, Mr. Robert Avetisyan and the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Canada<\/a> (ANCC), Sevag Belian.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile there have been multiple visits by Canadian delegates to Artsakh in the past, this particular visit was special in its kind, considering that it was tasked by a specific fact-finding mission that aimed to study and reveal the gross human rights violations that were committed by Azerbaijan, during the Four-Day War in April 2016\u2033\u009d said Sevag Belian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Canada<\/p>\n

During their visit, the delegation held several meetings with high-ranking officials from Armenia and Artsakh, where bilateral relations and current developments in the ongoing peace process were discussed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis visit and the delegation\u2019s special investigation into the war crimes committed by the Azerbaijani armed forces during the April aggression reveals important information for the international community to consider and learn the reality behind this conflict\u201d\u009d said Belian.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur expectation from the Canadian government is to continue its balanced approach towards the peaceful settlement of the conflict through the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group, advocate for the establishment of monitoring mechanisms along the line of contact, and encourage the participation of the Republic of Artsakh in the negotiation process, which is the only fair method to reach a viable settlement of the conflict\u201d\u009d added Belian.<\/p>\n

Shortly after their arrival in Artsakh, Rev. El-Shafie and the parliamentarians were subjected to slanderous attacks by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, eventually being placed on Baku\u2019s infamous \u201cblacklist\u201d. Meanwhile, Azerbaijani state media falsely accused the ANCC with defamatory accusations of sponsoring the trip of the delegation.<\/p>\n

In an interview given to the Globe and Mail, the Hon. Tony Clement refuted the Azeri fabrications and said \u201cWhat I saw with my own eyes is very disturbing in terms of the atrocities that were committed by Azerbaijani forces. In terms of the political situation, I am sure I echo Global Affairs Canada when I say it is better to have a negotiated solution than a continuing war\u201d<\/p>\n

Also commenting on the issue, Shahen Mirakian, president of the ANCC said \u201cThe ANCC worked with One Free World International and the governments of Armenia and Artsakh to plan the itinerary for this unprecedented fact-finding mission, without any further involvement. This mission was Rev El-Shafie\u2019s initiative and we were pleased to provide our input, make appropriate introductions and participate\u201d<\/p>\n

On September 1st, the delegation concluded its four-day trip at a press conference held at the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh, where they presented the preliminary results and impressions of their mission to local and international media outlets, specifically noting their reiteration to continue advocating for the peaceful resolution of the Artsakh conflict and the fundamental rights of the people of Artsakh.<\/p>\n

Canadian Delegation Discusses Bilateral Relations with Officials in Armenia and Artsakh<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stepanakert, Artsakh \u2013 A Canadian delegation headed by Rev. Majed el-Shafie, founder and president of One Free World International, and Members of Parliament the Hon. Tony Clement and Rachael Harder\u00e2\u20ac\u201dshadow ministers of Public Services and Procurement and the Status of Women, respectively, held several meetings with high ranking officials in the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh during their four-day fact-finding mission in the area. Accompanying the delegation was the Republic of Artsakh\u2019s permenant representative in North America, Mr. Robert Avetisyan and the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) Sevag Belian.<\/p>\n

\u201cReciprocal bilateral exchanges between the two countries is one of the most important factors contributing to the advancement of relations between Canada and Armenia. We are hopeful that such visits will take place more often and they will create the necessary conditions for Canada to establish a permanent diplomatic mission in Armenia\u201d said Belian.<\/p>\n

During their meetings with Armenia\u2019s Foreign Affairs and Defence ministers, as well as the speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, on August 29th, the sides discussed various issues pertaining to the expansion of bilateral relations between Canada and Armenia, regional developments, the ongoing peace process in the Artsakh conflict and the importance of protecting the self-determination of the people of Artsakh.<\/p>\n

While in Yerevan, the delegation also visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial, where they paid their respect to the 1.5 million innocent victims that lost their lives during the Armenian Genocide.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ongoing denial of the Armenian Genocide by the Turkish government and Azerbaijan\u2019s continuous aggression against Artsakh is the continuation of the very same genocide that the Armenian people were subjected to 102 years ago\u201d said Rev. Majed El-Shafie, head of the delegation and founder and president of One Free World International.<\/p>\n

From September 30 to September 1st, the delegation was hosted by the Republic of Artsakh, where similar meetings were held with the President of the Republic of Artsakh, the speaker of the National Assembly and the ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs. The delegation also visited the frontlines and the towns and villages that saw heavy destruction by the Azerbaijani army in April 2016.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis war is not only your war. It\u2019s a war for humanity. While we are calling for the peaceful resolution of this conflict, we have to understand that Artsakh has the right to exist and defend itself\u201d\u009d said Rev. El-Shafie.<\/p>\n

In Stepanakert, the delegation informed the government that they arrived in Artsakh to conduct a fact-finding investigation on the violations of the international humanitarian law and military crimes committed by Azerbaijan during the large-scale aggression launched against Artsakh in April 2016.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur message is very simple and very clear. The rights of humans and the rights of the Armenian people need to be protected\u201d said MP Rachael Harder.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe it is in the best interest of both Armenia and Azerbaijan to reach a peaceful resolution and to arrive at a solution that respects and honours the homeland of the Armenian people\u201d\u009d concluded Harder.<\/p>\n

Government official in Stepanakert welcomed the initiative of the delegation and stressed the importance of raising general awareness within the international community about the motives and consequences of the Azerbaijan\u2019s aggressive politics and to properly condemn those responsible for advancing the criminal activity of the Azerbaijani authorities.<\/p>\n

The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian grassroots human rights organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of issues and works to eliminate abuses of human rights throughout Canada and the world.<\/p>\n

Two Conservative MPs banned from Azerbaijan for visiting occupied territories<\/strong><\/p>\n

(The Globe and Mail) Conservatives MPs Tony Clement and Rachael Harder have been banned from the Central Asian nation of Azerbaijan for visiting disputed territories occupied by Armenia that have been the scene of sporadic and bloody clashes over the past 16 months.<\/p>\n

Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry has accused the MPs of falling for the “propaganda of the Armenian side” and ignoring four resolutions of the United Nations Security Council calling for the immediate, unconditional withdrawal of Armenian troops from the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh that was seized in a war in the early 1990s.<\/p>\n

The Conservative MPs are visiting the region on a trip paid for by One Free World International, a Toronto non-profit group headed by a Muslim-turned-Christian that advocates for persecuted minorities. They are accompanied by Armenian National Committee of Canada executive director Sevag Belian, who helped set up meetings with top government officials.<\/p>\n

Azerbaijan has lodged a protest with the Canadian government about the MPs’ trip and placed them on its list of undesirable persons.<\/p>\n

“One million Azerbaijanis have been subject to ethnic cleansing. Imagine Canadian MPs visiting these territories and, in a way, giving their support to this ethnic cleansing,” Azerbaijani foreign ministry chief spokesperson Hikmat Hajiyev told The Globe and Mail. “That is completely immoral and against the values of the Canadian government and Canadian society. It is completely unacceptable.”<\/p>\n

In a telephone interview from Armenia’s capital of Yerevan on Friday, Mr. Clement said he was taking part in a documentary that is being produced by One Free World.<\/p>\n

“I am not here endorsing anyone. I want both sides to have a negotiated settlement of the situation but I am here on a fact-finding and humanitarian mission along with Rachael Harder,” Mr. Clement said.<\/p>\n

However, he conceded that he accepts Armenia’s claims that Azerbaijani forces have committed atrocities, citing beheadings and cutting off of the ears of Armenian soldiers.<\/p>\n

“What I saw with my own eyes is very disturbing in terms of the atrocities that were committed by Azerbaijani forces. In terms of the political situation, I am sure I echo Global Affairs Canada when I say it is better to have a negotiated solution than a continuing war,” Mr. Clement said.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland did not directly criticize the two MPs, but made clear that the Canadian government does not wish to take sides in the territorial dispute.<\/p>\n

“It should be noted that Canada recommends against all travel to the Nagorno-Karabakh region. We fully support the [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s] efforts to forge a peaceful and comprehensive settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the region,” press secretary Adam Austen said. “A military solution is not the answer. This is a position we have communicated to the governments of both Armenia and Azerbaijan.”<\/p>\n

Nagorno-Karabakh is located within Azerbaijan and it is internationally recognized as being part of that country, but a large part of it is governed by Armenian separatists who seized control of the mountainous region from ethnic Azeris in the 1990s.<\/p>\n

Despite a ceasefire signed by the two foes in 1994, the two have never signed a peace treaty. There have been repeated flare-ups between the two countries, as recently as Friday.<\/p>\n

The United States, Russia and France, which co-chair the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Minsk Group for conflict mediation, have been working to secure a binding peace resolution.<\/p>\n

The OSCE Minsk Group is seeking the removal of snipers along both sides of the conflict and international peace observers to monitor ceasefire violations.<\/p>\n

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. In 1992, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.<\/p>\n

Armenia has not yet implemented UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. As many as 3,000 people, mostly soldiers, have been killed in the conflict since 2009.<\/p>\n

Humanitarian Delegation from Canada Visits Artsakh on Fact-Finding Mission<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Paula Der Matoian<\/p>\n

(HORIZON WEEKLY) STEPANAKERT, ARTSAKH \u2013 On 29 August 2017, a humanitarian delegation from One Free World International, based in Toronto, Canada; traveled to the Republic of Artsakh on a 4-day fact-finding mission.<\/p>\n

The delegation was led by Rev. Majed El Shafie, President and co-founder of One Free World International, who was joined by two Conservative Party members of the Parliament of Canada \u2013 the Honourable Tony Clement and Ms. Rachael Harder. Mr. Clement and Ms. Harder were accompanying the delegation in the capacity of observers.<\/p>\n

Also included in the delegation was Mr. Robert Avetisyan, Permanent Representative of the Artsakh Republic to the United States; and Mr. Sevag Belian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC), which was instrumental in assisting with and organizing the visit.<\/p>\n

The delegation travelled to Artsakh to meet with Armenian officials, and have a first-hand look at the situation on the ground. On the final day of their visit, the 1st of September, the delegation held a press conference to report on their initial findings. Each member of the delegation gave a brief synopsis of the trip from their own perspective, but echoed the same sentiments on the need and benefit to both Armenia and Azerbaijan, for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.<\/p>\n

The delegates appeared to be emotionally moved by their findings and the experience of the visit, and at one point, Ms. Harder struggled to maintain her composure when discussing the Artsakh Armenian civilian children that had been killed during the 4-day war. They pledged to continue the work that they had started from their trip, in the interest of human rights and justice.<\/p>\n

Below is the transcribed text of the press conference.<\/p>\n