Ignoring Artsakh Armenians` rights not to bring peace to Armenia -  Gegham Stepanyan 

ArmInfo.  The cessation of discussions on the problems of the Artsakh residents expelled from their homeland at various international venues will not lead to the signing of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This was stated in an interview with Armenian media by Artsakh Ombudsman and  member of the recently created Council for the Protection of the  Rights of the Artsakh People Gegham Stepanyan. 

In this regard, the human rights activist noted the importance of  understanding the reasons for the creation of the Council and one of  its requirements regarding the participation of legitimate  representatives of Artsakh in resolving the problems of the Artsakh  people. "For 30 years, Armenia has been perceived as a guarantor of  ensuring the rights of the Artsakh people and is the party that can  keep this issue on the agenda. However, Armenia does not discuss our  rights with either Azerbaijan or any other party," he emphasized,  recalling that it is the Armenian authorities who intend to withdraw  claims from international courts, which will negatively affect the  protection of the rights of the Artsakh people.

Touching upon the opinion that under the pretext of protecting the  social issues of the Artsakh people, the Council is actually  preparing an opposition struggle, Stepanyan recalled that after the  rally, demands were presented that included social problems and  issues of ensuring and protecting their rights, but did not contain a  political context. Then, as the Artsakh Ombudsman recalled, a meeting  was held with Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan, at which it  was stated that the support program for the Artsakh people in the  amount of "40 + 10" thousand would not be revised anyway. 

"An attempt has begun to implement other programs that do not solve  the problems we have outlined. That is, the issues we presented  remained unresolved, and we were given to understand that they will  not be revised. It was after this that the Council set up a tent on  Freedom Square and invited public figures to unite around this agenda  and develop proposals. We are using all possible ways to solve the  problems of the Artsakh people," the Artsakh Ombudsman explained.

Stepanyan also recalled that on the day of the rally, there were  statements that the people of Artsakh were being used to resolve  political issues, and he drew attention to the fact that the rally  should not be perceived as an attempt to change the government. "The  Council has repeatedly emphasized that it has a specific agenda that  concerns exclusively the rights of the people of Artsakh, and all  conversations are focused on these issues. At the same time, the  Armenian authorities present the situation as if they have already  solved the problems of the people of Artsakh, but it is quite obvious  that in the coming months there will be families who will be left  without housing. As a result of their actions, the authorities are  creating a basis for linking the work of the Council with individuals  who make statements outside the Council's agenda and use it for their  own political interests," Stepanyan explained.

The human rights activist also drew attention to the fact that many  opposition forces, which are associated with the activities of the  Council and attribute to it the intention to unite with the  opposition to carry out a change of power. In this regard, Stepanyan  called not to link individual statements with what the Council is  doing to protect the rights of the people of Artsakh.

On March 29, a rally for the rights of the people of Artsakh to  collective return, a dignified and safe life in their homeland, for  ensuring socio-economic rights in Armenia, for efforts to return  prisoners and protect the cultural heritage of Artsakh started at  Freedom Square in Yerevan. In connection with the preparation for the  rally, a special council was formed, which included representatives  of public organizations of Artsakh, parliamentary forces and  individuals. And on March 31, the Council for the Protection of the  Rights of Citizens of Artsakh held a protest in front of the building  of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia. During the  rally, the Council presented problems and possible solutions  regarding social programs for the people of Artsakh.