On the evening of 5 April, numerous Armenians held a meeting to protest Azerbaijan’s military actions on the Nagorno-Karabakh-Azerbaijan border and in support of the government and people of Nagorno-Karabakh at the hall of Ararat Union of New Djulfa. The event was organized by the “Ruben” Youth Union of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun and sponsored by Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Isfahan, His Eminence, Father Archbishop Babken Charian, reports Alik Daily’s correspondent to Hayern Aysor.

The event began with the speech of the “Ruben” Youth Union read by Karen Khanlarian. Condemning Azerbaijan’s military ambitions and reaffirming the solidarity of the young members of the community with the people of Artsakh, Karen Khanlarian said the following: “Our generation can and is willing to reinforce and deepen the independence, sovereignty and freedom of the homeland with its combativeness, scientific thought, immense skills in technology and communication and innovations, as well as knowledge of politics and diplomacy. It is with these abilities that we Armenians will bring our centuries-old and new enemies down to their knees. They are the enemies who are attacking our small homeland.”

The young members’ speech was followed by the showing of a video that shed light on the military actions that took place on the Nagorno-Karabakh-Azerbaijan border these past couple of days and the statements by high-ranking Armenian and foreign officials on that.

Afterwards, member of the Armenian National Committee of New Djulfa Ashot Davtian gave a speech in which he condemned Azerbaijan’s military provocations and especially the immorality of turning Armenian residences and peaceful civilians into targets. Davtian stressed that Azerbaijan’s belligerent policy is putting stability in the South Caucasus and in the region at risk. He added that the Armenian National Committee of New Djulfa, all of its structures, community unions and compatriots express their total solidarity with the state organizations of Artsakh and Armenia and are ready to support the Armenian people with actions. Davtian demanded that the OSCE Minsk Group, the co-chairing countries and European structures impose the end of military operations on Azerbaijan.

Davtian’s speech was followed by the speech by His Holiness, who appreciated the heroic endeavors of Armenian soldiers and the Armenian people in the defense and condemned the enemy’s assaults. “As a nation believing in the Resurrection of Christ, we Armenians support peace, but when the sword is hanging over our heads, we will break that sword. When the enemy tries to bring us down to our knees, it will be brought down to its knees because after the Armenian Genocide, new heroes have been born from the precious blood of our nation. They don’t know what it means to all and are strong with their posture.”

His Holiness expressed the solidarity of the Diocese’s national bodies with Artsakh and called on all Armenians of the world to continue to be alert and serious about the enemy’s actions. His Eminence, Father Archbishop Babken Charian asked the Iranian government to always play a positive role in the establishment of peace in the region.

At the end, Vana Shirvanian read the resolution for the evening that condemned Azerbaijan’s military provocations, expressed the total solidarity of the people with the state structures and people of Artsakh and Armenia and demanded that the OSCE Minsk Group and the co-chairing countries to force Azerbaijan to end the military operations and return to the negotiations table.

At the end, the protesters made their heartfelt donations to support the government and the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.