BRUSSELS, Belgium—A hearing titled, “Journalists’ Eyewitness Accounts in Armed Conflicts: The Case of Nagorno-Karabagh” was held in the European Parliament on Tues., Nov. 17. Participants included a large number of guests, members of the European Parliament, as well as members of Brussel’s Parliament. The hearing was co-organized by the EU-Armenia Friendship Group in the European Parliament and the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) under the patronage of Member of European Parliament Dr. Eleni Theocharous (European Peoples’ Party, Cyprus). Theocharous was in Karabagh (Artsakh) several times during the war and volunteered in the hospital of Stepanakert as a surgeon.
Dana Mazalova, Anna Karapetyan, Tsvetana Paskaleva, Bedo Demirdjian, MEP Eleni Theocharous, and Ambassador Tatoul Markarian
Dana Mazalova from the Czech Republic, Tsevatana Paskaleva from Bulgaria, and Anna Karapetyan from Armenia presented their eye-witness accounts of the liberation war in Karabagh. All three journalists were on the ground in Artsakh during the different stages of the war, from the days of the armed conflict to the signing of the ceasefire agreement.
EAFJD’s Bedo Demirdjian, who is responsible for public relations and communications, opened the hearing and welcomed the participants. Theocharous reiterated her support for the people of Artsakh and their right to self-determination. Tatoul Markarian, ambassador plenipotentiary and extraordinary, stated that not only does the negationist policy of the Turkish authorities need to be countered, but also the official policy of Azerbaijan, which distorts facts and reality. He spoke highly of the role of journalists on the panel, as well as their devotion and professionalism.
During her brief speech addressed to the European Parliament, Paskaleva stressed that the aggressive policies of Azerbaijan must stop, as it can unleash another war at any time. Paskaleva said that the people of Artsakh made high sacrifices and won the war, securing their right to a peaceful life. Her speech was followed by the screening of one of her documentaries, which depicts the turbulent days of the armed conflict as well as the current peace.
Czech journalist Dana Mazalova focused on the events in Khojaly, and the current misleading propaganda by Azerbaijan. She spoke of her interview with the President of Azerbaijan at the time, Ayaz Mutalibov, as well as her meetings with Azerbaijani journalist Cengiz Mustafayev. Mazalova also mentioned the current anti-Armenian and anti-democratic reality in Azerbaijan.
Journalist Anna Karapetyan elaborated on the ceasefire agreement signed in May 1994, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where she was present as a journalist. Karapetyan focused on the fact that the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic officially co-signed the ceasefire agreement—something that Azerbaijan tries to hide.
The eyewitness accounts of the three journalists were followed by a question-and-answer session. The members of the European Parliament present at the event expressed their support for Artsakh and its people’s right to self-determination.
Kaspar Karampetian, the president of EAFJD, emphasized the importance of such hearings. “The European institutions as well as various European countries need to be informed appropriately about the truth on the conflict in Artsakh. This is essential in order to combat Azerbaijani state propaganda. Today, these courageous journalists raised their voice in the center of Europe against ‘caviar diplomacy,’” said Karampetian.
Source: Armenian Weekly
Link: Journalists Speak Up on NKR at European Parliament