Reception dedicated to the 33rd Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Armenia was organized in The Hague

On October 10, a reception dedicated to the 33rd Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Armenia was organized in The Hague.

In his speech, Ambassador Viktor Biyagov highlighted the pillars of preserving the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia, emphasizing Armenia's unwavering commitment to democratic values, protection of human rights and the rule of law, as well as the significance of the support of international partners on the way to achieving the set goals.

In this context, the Ambassador particularly underscored the high level of political dialogue that exists between Armenia and the Netherlands, noted with appreciation the continuous support of the Dutch government and the outstanding reference to the Republic of Armenia in the Government program.

Ambassador Biyagov also referred to the significant achievements of Armenia in various fields since independence, especially in the face of historical trials and security challenges of recent years.

Reiterating the urgency of the release of 23 Armenian prisoners of war and other detained persons by Azerbaijan, the Ambassador emphasized that their immediate release should be the imperative of all those states that are committed to the international legal order and have long established themselves in the forefront of human rights advocacy, striving to ensure justice and dignity for all.

Referring to the ethnic cleansing of the indigenous Armenian population of the Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023, the Ambassador underlined that the appropriation and desecration of the Armenian cultural and religious heritage ​​is the continuation of Azerbaijan's systematic policy of eliminating the Armenian trace from Nagorno-Karabakh: 'in absolute noncompliance with the legally binding order of International Court of Justice which ordered Azerbaijan to take all necessary measures to prevent and punish acts of vandalism and desecration affecting Armenian cultural heritage'.

On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Mr. Erik Weststrate, Director for Europe, delivered his remarks on the occasion, highlighting the centuries-old Armenian-Dutch friendship and the current milestone of bilateral relations. The commitment of the Dutch government to support the Republic of Armenia in both bilateral and EU formats was once again underscored.

The evening was attended by representatives of the Dutch government, members of the Parliament, members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Netherlands, representatives of different international organizations based in The Hague, members of the Armenian community and other guests.

The event was accompanied by traditional Armenian music performed by the "Black Swan" quintet.