Statement of the Supreme Spiritual Council
29.10.2020
The Supreme Spiritual Council, presided by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; has issued the following statement.
STATEMENT OF SUPREME SPIRITUAL COUNCIL
It has already been a month that the Republic of Artsakh has been withstanding large-scale attacks unleashed by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces with the open support of Turkey. Turkey has provided both international mercenary terrorists and special forces of the Turkish Army, as well as a large amount of the latest weapons. The military-political leadership of Azerbaijan, using its entire armory including internationally banned weapons, targets the civilian settlements of Artsakh and its numerous health, educational, cultural, and religious buildings, including the maternity hospital of Stepanakert; demonstrating unprecedented behavior, even from the perspective of terrorist groups. We have hundreds of wounded and martyred soldiers in the sacred struggle for the defense of the homeland; and the shelling of the settlements has resulted in many injured and victims among the civilian population.
For these atrocities against the people of Artsakh, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev; as well as the other directly involved military-political figures who are supporting this violence; must be brought to the International Courts of Justice and be held liable as the organizers of crimes against humanity.
The Supreme Spiritual Council calls on the international community, particularly the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs; remaining loyal to the principles of a peaceful settlement to the conflict; to take more practical, effective and decisive measures for stopping the bloodshed; re-establishing peace in the region; as well as, for supporting the self-determination of the Armenians of Artsakh; and for the just recognition of the people's right to life. Azerbaijan's policy of resolving the matter of Artsakh through military operations and annihilating the Armenians of Artsakh once again proves the fact that there can be no guarantee of security for Artsakh as a part of Azerbaijan.
The Supreme Spiritual Council greatly appreciates the consistent efforts of the Minsk Group Co-Chair Countries for the establishment and maintenance of the humanitarian ceasefire; which was openly violated by Azerbaijan for the third time. We are full of hope that the Minsk Group Co-Chairs will find ways to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and prevent innocent human lives from being sacrificed for geopolitical interests. Today, Artsakh needs humanitarian assistance from all over the world.
We pray that the Lord Bless Armenia and Artsakh – our Homeland, keep our nation strong and united with faith and hope under His powerful Right Hand, and strengthen the might of our Homeland defenders.
May the Merciful God keep the whole world in peace; free from disasters, pain and the sorrows of war.
