YEREVAN (News.am)—Youth organizations in Armenia released an open statement on Friday condemning Azerbaijan’s recent threats to use force against Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. The letter, read at a press conference at the Yerablur memorial complex, is open for all youth, students and political organizations to join, the organizers said.
Below is the translated letter:
We, the young members of the Armenian political parties, condemn the recent belligerent rhetoric of the Azerbaijani leadership to initiate war. We believe that peace is among the most important values for the humanity, especially for our region. The statements to resume the war that the Azerbaijani president and defense minister make – showing that they have not learned from history – should be denounced even if they are made merely for propaganda purposes. However, if those statements are meant to pave way for resuming the military operations, the citizens of the Republic of Armenia, and first of all the youth, will honorably accept this challenge and raise arms to once again defend the right of the Artsakh people to live FREE in their homeland, as well as retaliate the aggressor to punish it for its irrational actions, to force peace, and provide a security zone around the territories provided in the NKR Constitution.
We are confident that the dangers threatening the statehood will unite every citizen of the Republic of Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, regardless of their social status and political views. As an example of a unity against external threats, we, the young citizens of various – sometimes even opposite — political trends express our readiness to leave aside all the political disagreements in case the treats to the homeland are materialized, and fight united for a victory.
In the name of freedom,
In the name of peace,
In the name of the Republic of Armenia.
National Democratic Union’s Youth Organization
Heritage Party’s Hayk Student and Youth Union
Republic Party’s Youth Organization
ARF Youth Organization of Armenia
ARF Nikol Aghbalyan Student Union
Armenian Ramkavar Party’s Armenak Yekanian Youth Club
Social Democrat Hnchak Party’s Sargis Tkhruni Student and Youth Union.”