Belgium’s federal parliament to hold hearings on draft resolution on Nagorno-Karabakh
A resolution calling for sanctions against Azerbaijan’s Aliyev regime and urgent actions to free the unlawfully held Armenian prisoners will be debated by Belgian legislators next week.
The hearing will be held on April 2 at the initiative of the foreign relations committee of the Chamber of Representatives, the lower house of Belgium’s federal parliament.
According to Armenpress, the resolution is authored by Members of the Chamber of Representatives Els Van Hoof (CD&V) and Michel De Maegd (MR) who serve as Chair and Deputy Chair of the foreign relations committee respectively.
“I was deeply shocked by the blockade of the Lachin Corridor, Azerbaijan’s subsequent aggression against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, and Azerbaijan’s continuous aggressive rhetoric against Armenia. Belgium and Europe must pressure Azerbaijan to fully respect Armenia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and to work genuinely towards sustainable peace. If Azerbaijan continues to violate international law, sanctions must be adopted at the European level, and the EU’s relations with Azerbaijan must be reviewed. This is what my resolution is calling for,” Els Van Hoof said.
Michel De Maegd said that the international community must act to achieve the release of the Armenian prisoners of war held in Azerbaijan.
“We must raise our voice. We must increase the pressure on Azerbaijan by all possible means. I discussed this issue again this week with the foreign minister and the prime minister. The issue is urgent. This resolution proposal serves this very purpose. It urges the government to act and use its leverage. It demands sanctions against the Aliyev regime. I will remain fully engaged, as always, and I will never give up this fight,” Michel De Maegd said in an interview with an Armenpress correspondent in Brussels.
Among the key points of the proposed draft resolution are the issue of ensuring the safe return of Artsakh Armenians, condemnation of Azerbaijan’s hostile rhetoric, the need for sustainable peace in the region, a call for the release of Armenian prisoners illegally held in Baku, the protection of Armenian cultural heritage, and many other issues.
