- European Parliament commemorates the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
- MEPs draw parallels between the Genocide and the recent ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh.
- Calls made for Turkey and Azerbaijan to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
- Criticism voiced against the EU’s ongoing cooperation with Azerbaijan despite its actions.
- The European Parliament emphasizes the need for human rights and international law to take precedence over economic interests.
European Parliament Commemorates Armenian Genocide Anniversary, Draws Parallels with Nagorno-Karabakh Ethnic Cleansing
Strasbourg – During its plenary session on April 3, 2025, the European Parliament solemnly commemorated the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Numerous Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) highlighted the profound parallels between the historical tragedy and the recent forced displacement of ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. Parliamentarians called on Turkey and Azerbaijan to recognize the Armenian Genocide as a crucial step towards reconciliation and strongly criticized the European Union’s continued cooperation with Azerbaijan despite its recent actions. The information was reported by the Armenian National Committee (Hay Dat) Central Office.
Recognition and Reconciliation: A Path Forward
Miriam Lexmann, a member of the EPP Group, underscored the fundamental link between recognition and reconciliation, stating, “The only way to normalize relations is through recognition and work towards recognition. Recognition and reconciliation require courage to confront the past and build the future on historical truth. This is more important than ever today, when hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh due to atrocities committed by Azerbaijan.”
Echoes of the Past in Nagorno-Karabakh
Continuing the sentiment, Yannis Maniatis from the S&D Group drew a direct connection to recent events, stating, “…This reminds us of the recent events in Nagorno-Karabakh, where hundreds of thousands of people were forced to leave their homes, and their cultural heritage was subjected to systematic destruction. This is a painful reminder that without memory and recognition, the past will repeat itself.” Maniatis also drew a comparison between the persecutions of Greeks, Armenians, and Assyrians in the Ottoman Empire and the forced displacements in Nagorno-Karabakh, noting that his own family were victims of such persecutions, forced to become refugees. He urged the EU to increase pressure on Turkey to recognize its “past crimes.”
Standing with Armenia: Territory and Rights
Nicola Bay from the ECR Group emphasized the historical context and current threats, remarking, “110 years ago, the Armenian people suffered a terrible genocide at the hands of Turkey, which still refuses to recognize this crime. For 110 years, they have tried to seize Armenian lands and eliminate the Armenian people.” Regarding the ongoing negotiations for a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Bay cautioned, “Let us not be naive. Azerbaijan’s demands demonstrate Baku’s bad intentions. We must stand firmly with the Armenian people and ensure that any agreement with Turkey and Azerbaijan is based on the recognition of Armenia’s territorial integrity and the rights of the Armenian people.”
EU’s Role and Responsibility Under Scrutiny
The European Union’s role and responsibility in light of these historical parallels and the ongoing crisis were heavily criticized during the plenary session. Markéta Gregorová from the Greens questioned the EU’s commitment to its own values, stating that the remembrance of past atrocities must translate into action against current injustices. “We cannot continue to close our eyes when it suits us,” Gregorová emphasized, highlighting the forced displacement of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh while noting that EU countries continue to import gas from Azerbaijan and maintain a memorandum of understanding with Baku. Her call was clear: “Let us support Armenia, the last democracy left in the region.”
“Ethnic Cleansing” and the Fate of Refugees
Pernando Barrena Arza from The Left Group unequivocally called the events in Nagorno-Karabakh “ethnic cleansing.” He urged the EU to strongly condemn Azerbaijan’s actions and not to forget the fate of Armenian refugees and political prisoners who are subjected to “sham trials and verdicts.” Barrena Arza insisted that the EU must take a more active role in forcing Azerbaijan to change its behavior and prevent further violence by Azerbaijan and Turkey.
Memory, Justice, and Current Suffering
Concluding the profound analysis of the past and present, Marie Toussaint from the Greens stressed that the Armenian Genocide remains an “open wound in the memory of the Armenian people and Europeans.” She emphasized the moral duty to preserve this memory and fight against denial. Toussaint linked the historical justice of the Genocide to the current suffering of the Armenian people, pointing to political prisoners in Azerbaijan and the hundreds of thousands displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh, deprived of their right to return. The MEP also addressed the consequences of the EU-Azerbaijan energy policy. In her concluding remarks, the parliamentarian observed, “History repeats itself in other forms, but with the same impunity.”
The plenary session clearly demonstrated the European Parliament’s condemnation of the ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh, reaffirming that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is a cornerstone for peace and reconciliation in the region. Parliamentarians appealed to EU member states to adopt a more consistent and principled foreign policy that prioritizes human rights and international law over economic interests. The Armenian National Committee (Hay Dat) Europe, as a pan-European structure represented in 14 European countries, expressed its deep gratitude to the MEPs who honored the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims and continue to shed light on the struggle of the Armenian people, especially those forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh. Commenting on the issue, the chairman of Hay Dat Europe highlighted the criticism voiced by several MEPs towards the EU executive authorities, noting the latter’s lack of political will to use the term “genocide” and to show proper respect and dignified treatment towards the victims of this crime.