Hay Dat European Bureau criticizes EU for total omission of Artsakh  from  official summit discussions 

ArmInfo.The Hay Dat European Bureau of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation has issued a statement following the EU-Armenia Summit, criticizing the European Union for failing to mention the issue of Artsakh.

The statement reads as follows: " The European Armenian Federation  for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) acknowledges the historic  significance of the first-ever EU-Armenia Summit held in Yerevan. The  presence of European Council President Antonio Costa and Commission  President Ursula von der Leyen signals a welcome willingness by  European leadership to engage directly with Armenian society.  However, the EAFJD emphasizes that diplomatic presence must now  translate into concrete actions that safeguard Armenia’s sovereignty  and the rights of its people.   While the summit celebrated a “new chapter,” we remind European  leaders that the foundation of this relationship, the Comprehensive  and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was built on the condition  of rigorous judicial reforms, institutional resilience, and the  strengthening of democratic values. In order for “Armenia’s future  [to] be determined freely and democratically by its citizens”,  comprehensive changes need to be applied to ensure electoral  integrity, opposition rights, media independence and protection from  ALL foreign interference during the electoral process, a concept that  was unfortunately not enforced by some European leaders during this  very Summit.   The Joint Declaration highlights three primary avenues of  cooperation: Energy, Connectivity, and Digital Infrastructure. While  these economic pillars can be vital for long-term growth if applied  strategically in tandem with internal reforms, the EAFJD questions  how these technical projects will bolster Armenia’s immediate  security if they are not paired with a firm stance against regional  aggression.  Crucially, the EAFJD expresses profound concern and  disappointment regarding the total omission of Artsakh  (Nagorno-Karabakh) from the official summit discussions. Despite the  European Parliament’s clear mandate (Resolution of April 30, 2026),  which explicitly:   1.Condemns the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population of  Nagorno-Karabakh; 2.Demands the immediate release of Armenian  hostages and prisoners of war held in Baku; 3.Calls for the  protection and international monitoring of Armenian cultural and  religious heritage currently being destroyed by Azerbaijan;   …the Summit’s Joint Declaration remained silent on these existential  issues. This omission is a stark contradiction to the European  Parliament’s call for justice and the right of return for the  displaced people of Artsakh under international guarantees.  The  EAFJD agrees with the European Parliament that “democratic  resilience” cannot exist in a vacuum. If the EU is to be a true  strategic partner, it must act on its own democratic mandates. We  call on the European Commission to move beyond infrastructure  planning and take concrete steps to hold Azerbaijan accountable for  its crimes. Strategic connectivity must not come at the cost of  justice for the 150,000 Armenians ethnically cleansed from their  ancestral homes."