BRUSSELS–With representatives from Armenian communities throughout the world in attendance–the official opening of the Brussels office of the European-Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (Armenian National Committee of Europe) was held on July 13.
Those in attendance included ARF Bureau members Garo Armenian and Hagop Yenikomshian–Armenia’s Ambassador to the UN Viken Zidechian–Armenia’s Ambassador to Italy Gagig Baghdassarian–Armenia’s Ambassador to Greece Vahram Kajoyan–ARF Central Committee political representative and Armenian Parliamentary foreign relations committee co-chairman Armen Rustamian and European representative of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh Ardag Haroutiunian. Also at the event were representatives of the Armenian communities of France–Greece–Germany and Belgium.
During the opening remarks–EAFJD chairperson Hilda Chobayan welcomed Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian–French Senate vice-president Guy Fisher–French parliamentarian Francois Rochebuane and French Armenian community representative Alexis Govchian.
Armenian Foreign Minister Oskanian noted that "the Armenian National Committee of Europe has worked tirelessly during the last decades to introduce Armenian issues to European countries."
The new central office will play a key role in coordinating Armenian advocacy efforts within the European Commission–the European Parliament and the European Council.
For over 17 years–the EAFJD has worked closely with European authorities–notably the European Parliament–in examining and adopting resolutions on issues of human rights–democracy–regional stability and peace impacting Armenia–Nagorno Karabakh and Armenian communities of the Diaspora. Among the results of these efforts has been the adoption in 1987 of the Genocide resolution by the European Parliament.
The work of EAFJD led to the European condemnation of pogroms against the Armenian populations in Azerbaijan and of the deportations of Armenia’s from Nagorno Karabakh by the Azerbaijani authorities. The EAFJD has also secured the adoption of resolutions supporting Armenia’s and Nagorno-Karabakh’s right to self-determination–support for the OSCE Minsk group process–and garnering political influence in pressuring Turkey to lift its blockade against Armenia and to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
The EAFJD will act as a link between European institutions and the one-million Armenia’s living throughout Europe–and will work to increase the community’s influence within these institutions in order to foster a better understanding of political and strategic issues.
The members of the EAFJD represent the various communities within the European Union. The Executive Director of EAFJD European office is Laurent Leylekian–and Talline Tachdjian serves as Communications Director.
For more information on EAFDJ visit www.eafjd.org.