The Congress held a debate on 26 October on the humanitarian situation following the flight of more than 100,000 Karabakh Armenians to neighbouring Armenia.
In the adopted Declaration presented by Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE), the Congress strongly condemned the military operation carried out by Azerbaijan in Karabakh on 19-20 September 2023 and the preceding ten-month-long blockade of the region, which have led to a dire humanitarian situation. While recognising the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, the Congress deplored the serious humanitarian consequences of the situation and called on Azerbaijan to refrain from any action that may lead to its further deterioration, and to release all detained representatives of Karabakh, including at local level.
The Congress expressed its solidarity with Armenian local authorities hosting Karabakh Armenians, welcomed the support already provided to local communities by the Armenian government, and affirmed its readiness to assist Armenian national and local authorities, including through co-operation activities on the ground, in addressing the consequences of the situation.
