T he large-scale hostilities in Artsakh, which began early in the morning on September 27, aroused all the Armenians, of which the Diaspora was not left out. The Armenian organizations and individuals abroad responded to the Azerbaijani attacks by condemning it and expressing their support to the Motherland.

Immediately after the launch of hostilities, the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I got in touch with the RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, expressing his support to the Armenian Army and calling on the Diaspora to support their homeland:

“We call on the children of our nation to express their full support to the homeland and to the Armenian Army in various ways. When the homeland is in danger, all the Armenians will become an Armenian Army. This is evidenced by our history: this is the message of our history. We will pray to the God to keep our homeland and army away from all kinds of visible and invisible evils”, stated His Holiness [1].

The Armenian community of the United States mobilized the local lobbying organizations. The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) called on Armenians living in America to turn to President Donald Trump, to the former Vice President and current Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, their senators and representatives (MPs of both houses of Congress), demanding to condemn the Azerbaijani attack on Artsakh and stop any military assistance to Aliyev’s regime. For that purpose, ANCA created an opportunity to send applications online on its website [2].

ANCA Executive Director Aram Hambaryan turned to the Armenian community with a special message noting that the Azerbaijani attack is the continuation of the Genocide [3]. 

The Armenian Assembly of America also, informing that Azerbaijan started large-scale hostilities against Artsakh by targeting the capital Stepanakert, other settlements and civil institutions, called on the Armenian community to demand from the US Congress to stop any kind of military support to Baku. For that purpose, the AAA also created an opportunity to send applications online on its website [4].

The Union of Armenians in Russia strongly condemned the following offensive of the military-political leadership of Baku, which is officially supported by Turkey. The Union called on the Armenians living in Russia to show calmness and to be alert, not to give in to information baits and various provocations aimed at aggravating the situation. The Armenian Embassy in Russia also addressed to the Armenian community with such a call.

As the website of the Union of Armenians in Russia notes, the UAR is in constant contact with the leadership of Artsakh. The representation of the Union in Artsakh is working for clarifying the directions of necessary assistance to the civilian population. The statement of the Union ends with the speech of the President Ara Abrahamyan:

“Artsakh has always been and will remain the symbol of our strength, self-sacrifice and honor. It is undefeatable” [5].

The Armenian community in France is also active: according to Murad Papazian, Co-Chair of the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations of France and the ARF bureau member, the Socialist Party in France called on the international community to recognize Artsakh and demand an immediate cessation of hostilities. The Party

1. strongly condemned the Azerbaijani forces’ attack on Artsakh,
2. noted that the current tense situation requires the immediate meeting of the Minsk Group and the rapid response of the UN Security Council for seeking ways for a peaceful settlement, re-establishment of Artsakh’s independence and its recognition by international community [6],
3. expressed its regret that Turkey has become involved in this conflict by providing unconditional political and military assistance to Azerbaijan,
4. called on France and the European Union, to take immediate steps to stop the hostilities and to maintain the signed ceasefire regime [7]. 

Garo Paylan, an Armenian member of Turkish Parliament and a member of the People’s Democratic Party called on Turkey to refrain from destabilizing the situation in the region on his Twitter page. The Armenian figure particularly noted, “Large-scale clashes between the Armenian and Azerbaijani Armed Forces are underway in Karabakh. Our country should stop pouring oil on fire in Karabakh, as this war has no winners” [8]. According to Garo Paylan, both the Armenian and Azerbaijani people will suffer losses.

Thus, the Diaspora as always stands by the homeland at its crucial moment.

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[1] “We stand by the homeland and the Armenian Army” His Holiness Aram I Catholicos

[2] Artsakh Under Attack - Condemn Azerbaijani Aggression, Cut-off all U.S. Military Aid to Baku

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4780RtEM

[4] Urge Congress to Stop Azerbaijan's Attack Against Artsakh

[5] Утро воскресного дня началось с сообщений о воздушно-ракетном нападении азербайджанских вооруженных сил на населенные пункты Арцаха, в том числе столицу – Степанакерт

[6] In recent years, the issue of international recognition of Arthsakh has been more actively circulating in the political discourse of France, which is a positive phenomenon in itself. It is difficult to overestimate the role of the Armenian community and its political structures in this issue.

[7] Социалистическая партия Франции призывает международное сообщество признать Арцах

[8] Turkey should stop pouring oil on fire in Karabakh: Garo Paylan