An open letter regarding the war in Nagorno-Karabakh

Here is the Open Letter regarding the current war in Nagorno-Karabakh, which was sent to the Prime Minister, party leaders, and other MPs this morning. While connecting with a number of well-informed and experienced people in the area to sign the letter, we were touched and grateful for all the support we received. We would like to warmly thank everyone for standing up for peace.

An open letter regarding the current conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh

London, 9 October 2020

We, the undersigned, call upon the government of the United Kingdom and other countries with interests in the region of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh to push for an immediate and full truce with parties returning to negotiations and outside military involvement halted. Human rights are not served by war and without such intervention, destruction and loss of life will only increase.  The potential for much wider instability and turbulence is great.

On September 27, Azerbaijan began an unprovoked and sustained attack on the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, also called Artsakh. With direct and active military support from Turkey, this has great potential for destabilising the entire region.

This is not, as some have portrayed it, a war of Muslim against Christian.  It is an attack on human rights and lives are at stake.  Although an 89% majority in the 1926 census, Armenians there were forced to settle for an autonomous region within Azerbaijan until the fall of the Soviet Union. They are not an occupying force, but a majority, indigenous ethnic population who sought independence in 1991 because of decades of discrimination against them under Azerbaijan’s rule. The right to self-determination is enshrined in the 1975 Helsinki Act and we ask that this be upheld.  It is of greatest concern that now President Aliyev demands that all Armenians leave Nagorno Karabakh before negotiations can begin.

Today’s war is not restricted to the disputed area but now includes Armenia where Turkish planes have invaded its airspace and Azeri shelling hits civilians, homes and schools in Nagorno-Karabakh and within the borders of Armenia.  Threats have been voiced about destroying sites that would mean environmental disaster for the region. The war is now spreading to areas of Azerbaijan with a proportionate Armenian response in retaliation.  Reports confirm that mercenaries brought from Syria through Turkey are fighting for the Azeris, in breach of a UN convention banning this practice. Azerbaijan is a party to the convention.

It is clear that there would have been no advantage to Armenia beginning such a war. The Armenian government has asked for a return to the negotiation table with the Minsk Group, a call rejected by Azerbaijan and Turkey.  Meanwhile, a humanitarian crisis is quickly deepening across the region with tragic loss of life on both sides. Dangerous rhetoric by Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan continues as he threatens to invade Armenia and “continue until the end”.  The history of the past century demonstrates the real threat of ethnic cleansing of Armenians by Turkish forces.  The Genocide of 1915 is still denied by Turkey and yet President Erdoğan threatens to continue ridding the land of Armenians.

In Turkey itself, the Armenian minority are facing growing intimidation and hate speech since the war began. They are not part of the Caucasus conflict themselves and have called for peace but still are targeted. Clear and immediate action is needed to stop the fighting and prevent further ethnic cleansing.  We call upon the United Kingdom, along with the United Nations, the OSCE Minsk Group and indeed the international community to act now.

This letter was initiated by the Armenian Institute.

The signatories are expressing their own views and not those of their associated institutions.

  • Lord Alton of Liverpool

  • Lord Berkeley of Knighton CBE

  • Baroness Cox,  Independent Member of the House of Lords 

  • Lord Darzi of Denham

  • The Reverend the Lord Griffiths of Burry Port

  • Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, on behalf of the Diocese of The Armenian Church of the United Kingdom & Ireland

  • Geoffrey Robertson, QC

  • Marc Willers, QC

  • Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, Royal Academy of Music

  • Anna Arutshyan, Director of 'Women's Solidarity Fund', Oxford, LLM In International Human Rights Law, Oxford Brookes University.

  • Armand Abramian, Chair of the Armenian Community Council of the United Kingdom

  • Arsine Aghazaryan

  • R. Paul Alcock (LL. B, solicitor)

  • Dr. Daniel Altshuler, Associate Professor of Semantics, University of Oxford

  • Richard Mourad Anooshian, Retired Banker, Armenian Institute, Trustee

  • Marianna Asatryan, Head of Admissions Operations, University of Oxford

  • Tatevik Ayvazyan, Armenian Institute, Director  

  • Karina Avakyan

  • Dr Karen Babayan, Artist and Curator

  • Tamar Babekian

  • Sharice Babakhani

  • Greg Krikor Basmadjian RIBA, Director, KVB Architects Ltd

  • Professor Haro Bedelian CBE FREng, Honorary Fellow , St Catharines College, University of Cambridge

  • Anoushka Berberian, Armenian Institute, Digital Strategist

  • Aren Berberian, Armenian Institute Advisory Committee

  • Garo Berberian, Filmmaker

  • Cllr Julian Bell, Labour Leader of Ealing Council 

  • Vicki Bertram, Poet

  • Dr Seda Boghossian-Tighe, Principle General Practitioner, South Central Ambulance NHS Trust and Surrey Heartlands CCG, NHS England. 

  • Sara Calian Kaprielian

  • Alexander Chaushian, Musician

  • Anahit Chaushian, Musician

  • Gregoir Chikaher, Consulting Engineer

  • Christina Chikaher, Pharmacist

  • Levon Chilingirian, OBE, Musician

  • Ruby Chorbajian, LL.M., Armenian Institute Advisory Committee

  • Dr Vazken Khatchig Davidian, Post Doctoral Fellow, University of Oxford

  • Tatiana Der Avedissian, Armenian Institute, Trustee

  • Stella Der Hakopian 

  • Barouyr Der Haroutounian

  • Sebooh  Der Hakopian

  • Anayis N. Der Hakopian  

  • Sonia Duggan, Mental and Emotional Fitness Coach

  • Hratch Djerrahian / Human Rights Supporter

  • Arda Eghiayan, Armenian Institute, Trustee

  • Bedo Eghiayan, CEO Wigmore Medical

  • Gareth Evans, Event and Film Producer; Adjunct Moving Image Curator: Whitechapel Gallery

  • Jacqueline Faridani

  • J. S. Gallagher, Past Mayor, London Borough of Ealing, 2011/2

  • Rouben Galichian, Armenian Institute, Advisory Committee

  • Kate Griffiths, documentary producer

  • Dr Cengiz Gunes, Associate Lecturer, The Open University

  • Asadour Guzelian, Guzelian picture agency

  • Charles Hazlewood, Conductor

  • Annie Hogg

  • Prof. Kevork Hopayian   

  • Sylvie Howse

  • Jack H Atamian, Chartered Engineer

  • Karen Howse

  • Ms. Naneh V Hovhannisyan (MA, author)

  • Ara Iskanderian, solicitor, BA, MA, LLB, former councillor London Borough of Ealing

  • Dr Armine Ishkanian, Associate Professor of Social Policy, London School of Economics 

  • Steven Isserlis, CBE, Musician

  • Robert S H Istepanian, Visiting Professor, Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College, London 

  • Diane John, Company Director

  • Dr. Becky Jinks, Chair, Armenian Institute Trustees, Lecturer in Modern History, Royal Holloway, University of London

  • Professor Sian Jones, Professor of Heritage, University of Stirling

  • Dr Sossie Kasbarian, Senior Lecturer in Politics, University of Stirling

  • Dr Suzan Meryem Rosita Kalayci, Director of the Oxford Network of Armenian Genocide Research and College Chaplain of St Hilda’s College Oxford

  • Reverend Canon Dr Patrick Thomas, author, Chancellor and Canon Librarian, St Davids Cathedral, Pembrokeshire, Wales

  • Arpiné Kebranian

  • Silva keondjian

  • Sona Kalenderian,  Librarian and Western Armenian Teacher.

  • Tamar Kalenderian, Events Coordinator.

  • Kevork Kapikyan, Entertainer-Musician, Howlin' Entertainment Ltd  

  • Dr Raffi Kaprielian MD FRCP, Consultant Cardiologist Chelsea and Westminster NHSFT

  • Belinda Keheyan, Armenian Institute Advisory Committee

  • Audrey Kalajian

  • Maral Keoshgerian

  • Sophie Keoshgerian

  • Hratche Koundarjian

  • Ani King-Underwood, retired TV producer/director, Armenian Institute Advisory Committee

  • Dominic Lawson - Journalist

  • Jo Laycock, Senior Lecturer in Migration History, University of Manchester

  • John Lubbock, journalist

  • Charles Masraff

  • Cllr Tariq Mahmood, London Borough of Ealing

  • Matt Malcomson, CEO, Kumano Ventures

  • Dr. Anoosh Major, Retired Ophthalmologist, Moorfields Eye Hospital

  • Sharon Major Tchilingirian, Orthoptist, Moorfields Eye Hospital

  • Dr. Stella Major, Associate Professor Family Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar

  • Prof. Ruth Mandel, University College London

  • Dr. Paul Manook (Dishchekenian)

  • Mrs. Isobel Manook

  • Philip Marsden FRSL

  • Charles Masraff

  • Stephen Masters, Managing Director, Scattercode Ltd, Armenian Institute, Trustee

  • Nouritza Matossian, Author, Armenian Institute Advisory Committee

  • Neil McPherson, Playwright

  • Diran Meghreblian, formerly a broadcaster at the BBC World Service Russian department

  • Dr. Jawad Mella, Kurdish writer and politician

  • Dr Tatevik Mnatskanyan, Lecturer in Diplomacy and International Governance, Loughborough University London

  • Paula Melville, Retired teacher, Armenian Institute Advisory Committee

  • Annette Moskofian ANC-UK Chairperson

  • Cllr Margy Newens

  • Sandra Newens

  • Stan Newens, Former MP and MEP

  • Misak Ohanian, CEO of the Centre for Armenian Information & Advice

  • Kevork Oskanian, Honorary Research Fellow, University of Birmingham

  • Dr Vassilios Paipais, Lecturer, School of International Relations, University of St Andrews.

  • Tony Palmer, film maker

  • Martina Picmanova

  • Dr Susan Pattie, Academic Advisor, Armenian Institute. Honorary Senior Research Associate, UCL

  • Vaughn Pilikian, Filmmaker

  • Hovhannes Poghosyan

  • Vartoug Pourian 

  • Russell Pollard Journalist/Photographer Artsakh.Org.UK

  • Dr Natalie Naïri Quinn, Fellow and Tutor in Economics, Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford

  • Jasmine Samvelyan

  • Emil Sahakyan, Senior Immigration Law Caseworker 

  • Cllr Mik Sabiers

  • Ara Sarafian, historian and director of Gomidas Institute, London

  • Dr. Bared Safieh-Garabedian, Professor of Biochemistry, College of Medicine – QU Health

  • Dr Marina Shahinyan Shapira, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Stirling

  • Helen Sheehan, photographer and journalist

  • Dr Miriam Snellgrove. Research Fellow - University of Stirling

  • Emma Spencer

  • Elias Spencer

  • Dr Gagik Stepan-Sarkissian, Armenian Institute, Librarian and Research Advisor

  • Mr James Sturdy 

  • Aram Shishmanian

  • Cllr. Andrew Steed, London Borough of Ealing

  • Professor Svetlana Stephenson, London Metropolitan University

  • Dr Hratch Tchilingirian, Associate of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford

  • Revd Dr Andrew Teal, Chaplain, Fellow, Lecturer in Patristic & Modern Theology, Pembroke College, University of Oxford, Warden, Community of the Sisters of the Love of God

  • Carole Tongue, former MEP

  • Hasmig Topalian, Armenian Institute Advisory Committee

  • Haig Utidjian

  • Dr Bert Vaux, King's College, Cambridge University

  • Prof Theo Maarten van Lint, Calouste Gulbenkian Professor of Armenian Studies, University of Oxford 

  • Kristina Vardanyan PhD Candidate 

  • Dr Simona Vittorini, Department of Politics and International Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies.

  • Dr. Tamara Wilson, Honorary Research Fellow, University of Roehampton

  • Dr. Sarah Wilson, University of Stirling

  • Dr Sirvart Yeretsian 

  • Elise Youssoufian, poet

  • Sossi Yerissian

  • Dr David Zakarian, Associate Faculty Member, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford

  • Dr Ulrike Ziemer, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, University of Winchester

  • Joanne Zorian-Lynn, Actor.