Belgium, Brussels 1 September 2025– The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) strongly condemns the OSCE Ministerial Council’s decision to formally dissolve the OSCE Minsk structure, depriving the ethnically cleansed Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh from the only internationally mandated mediation format for the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the protection of their rights.
The EAFJD shares the concerns expressed by the Armenian National Committee-International (ANC-I), stating that the decision to close the OSCE Minsk structures “legitimizes the use of force and abandons the foundational principles of international law.” The EAFJD firmly believes that the “joint appeal” by Armenia and Azerbaijan, which served as the basis for the decision, represents a serious blow to the right of self-determination of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, the right to return to their ancestral homeland, the protection of the cultural and religious heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh, and omits to factor in serious lingering issues such as the occupation of sovereign Armenian territory by Azerbaijan, the sham trials of Armenian hostages in Baku, genocidal war crimes against innocent Armenian population of Artsakh and the persistent Armenophobic and militant rhetoric employed by Azerbaijan against Armenia and the Armenian people.
It is through this policy of aggressive rhetoric and coercive military threats that Azerbaijan has pushed Armenia to make such an appeal. It is therefore surprising and alarming that the international community has chosen to endorse such a process.
The EAFJD insists that a true and lasting peace cannot be built on coercion and silence. President Kaspar Karampetian expressed his frustration on the news, stating:
“The fact that so many nations have embraced this process, a blatant disregard for human rights, justice and a true path towards reconciliation is both shocking and dangerous. The notion that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved and does not necessitate the mediation of key third parties disregards the plight and the rights of the Armenian civilian population of Artsakh, ethnically cleansed from their homeland. Abandoning the responsibility to uphold the standards of international law and the moral obligation towards victims of serious war crimes is destabilizing for the region and does not lead to a path of peace. It is imperative for the OSCE and its members to not abandon the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, the hostages in Baku and the Armenian people from succumbing to the threats of Azerbaijan”
The EAFJD calls on the OSCE and its member states to remain committed to its core principles of diplomacy and justice. We remind the body of the commitments of key European institutions, such as the European Parliament, and countries like Belgium and Switzerland, who have taken concrete steps to demand and protect the right to return of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, under international security guarantees, the freedom of the Armenian hostages and the withdrawal of Azerbaijani army from Armenia. These issues remain unresolved, a reality that is understood by many European leaders.
The resolution of these issues constitutes non-negotiable prerequisites for any lasting peace. The EAFJD will continue to advocate for a solution that upholds these fundamental rights and ensures security in the South Caucasus.
