Statement from the Concordia Armenian Students’ Union on the Participation of Concordia University at COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan

We, the Armenian Student Associations of Canada, express our deep disappointment and concern regarding Concordia University’s decision to send a delegation to the COP 29 conference in Azerbaijan. While we fully recognize the importance of addressing the global climate crisis and commend efforts to find sustainable solutions, we believe that these must not come at the cost of turning a complete blind eye to tyranny, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Furthermore, the University’s invitation to COP 29 in Baku could potentially jeopardize the safety and well-being of its delegates, placing them in a situation where their basic human rights could be compromised.

Nearly a year ago, Azerbaijan orchestrated the ethnic cleansing and systematic displacement of the entire Armenian population of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh). For the first time in its 4,000 year old history, Nagorno-Karabakh has been left without its ethnic Armenian population. The nine month long blockade of the Lachin Corridor, which effectively cut off Nagorno-Karabakh’s population from the rest of the world, combined with Azerbaijan’s military aggression against both Armenia and the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, have created an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the region. The resulting war crimes and ethnic persecution, which include the arbitrary detention of Armenian political leaders and the continued illegal imprisonment of Armenian POWs, violate fundamental human rights and constitute a blatant disregard for international humanitarian law.

Consequently, by participating in COP 29, hosted in Azerbaijan, Concordia University will be legitimizing a regime that continues to perpetuate aggression, ethnic cleansing, and widespread human rights abuses not only against the Armenian people but also against its own citizens. Numerous human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have documented and condemned Azerbaijan’s use of arbitrary detention and suppression of dissent.

As students of this University and Canadians who would like to believe in our country’s commitment to democracy and human rights, we are calling on Concordia to cancel the participation of its delegation in COP 29. Taking part in this conference which is being held in a country that has committed and continues to commit such atrocities would send a deeply troubling message. It would suggest a tacit acceptance of Azerbaijan’s actions and risks tarnishing Concordia’s reputation as a leading academic institution committed to justice, human rights, and ethical engagement.

It is clear that this is not merely a political matter but also one of ethical and moral responsibility. We urge Concordia to lead by example and opt to be on the right side of history.

– Concordia Armenian Students’ Union – CASU
– Armenian Youth Federation of Canada (AYF Canada)

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