«Հայաստան» խմբակցության պատգամավոր Լիլիթ Գալստյանը ֆեյսբուքյան էջում գրել է․ «Բարոնուհի Քերոլայն Քոքոսը՝ Հայաստանում եվրոպական ընտանիքի գագաթաժողովի նախօրյակին բաց նամակ է տարածել և միջազգային հանրության ուշադրությունը սևեռել երկու կարևոր հանգամանքների վրա՝
ա․ Բաքվում հալածվող հայ քաղաքական բանտարկյալներ, պահվող անձինք,
բ․ Հայաստանում իշխանությունների կողմից իրականացվող հակասահմանադրական արշավ Հայ Առաքելական Եկեղեցու դեմ»։
Գալստյանը հրապարակել է նամակը․
«Dear friends, colleagues, and all with an interest in Armenia,
In my public statement, dated 5th February 2025, I announced that I
would be reducing some of my activities, but that I planned to continue to
engage with causes to which I remain deeply committed. As a consistent
supporter of Armenia since 1988 and having visited Armenia and
Artsakh more than 70 times, it will be obvious that the Republic of
Armenia, whose people I love so dearly, remains very close to my heart.
I remain equally committed, with an outpouring of love and support, to
the people of Artsakh whose history, faith, suffering, and endurance
remain inextricably linked to the wider history and lived experience of
Armenia.
I welcome the fact that relations between Armenia and the European
Union have progressed to the stage which allows the first
Armenia-European Union summit to take place in Yerevan on 4th and 5th
May 2026. However, I remain deeply concerned about two issues, and I
therefore feel compelled to write this letter in the spirit of St Paul who
calls upon each of us to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). It
seems to me that it is important to ensure, when we look to the future,
that we do not forget the past. Of greater importance still is that we
should never attempt to erase that past or somehow choose or
encourage others to forget all that we know history has taught us. We
must always remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice or suffered
injury and loss or imprisonment whilst that history was being created.
My first concern is that of the hostage prisoners and Prisoners of War
from Armenia and Artsakh who, to this day, remain in captivity in
Azerbaijan. It is reported that many are still being treated in a manner
which offends the European Union’s own laws and stipulations
concerning the treatment of those in captivity, and the right to a fair trial. I
cannot see that such issues can be put to one side by anyone who
wishes, as I do, for a just and lasting peace. It has often been said that
“there can be no peace without justice” and it is my hope that those
words are kept clearly in mind by all those who are involved in shaping
Armenia’s future. I repeat that the past cannot simply be ignored or
erased. It must be addressed. I respectfully call upon the government
and people of Armenia, together with all interested partners, to ensure
that this approach is given priority in a meaningful and purposeful
manner until all hostage prisoners and PoWs of Armenia and Artsakh
have been released. The shared goals of lasting justice and peace and
greater co-operation surely demand that the EU also give this issue their
highest priority.
My second concern relates to the ongoing tensions in Church/State
relations in Armenia. It is a source of great pain and sadness to me that
Armenia, as the first country to adopt Christianity as its official state
religion widely thought to be in 301AD, should find itself in the current
situation. Inspired by the example of St Gregory the Illuminator, the
founder and first head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, I pray that all
those concerned should work together to ensure freedom of religion or
belief in an atmosphere of mutual respect. I humbly call upon the
European Union to ensure that, in any engagement with any third
country and as they have committed to do, it requests and requires of
those concerned that they abide by the relevant U.N. resolutions and the
relevant EU rules and stipulations concerning freedom of religion or
belief including EU Guidelines on the Promotion and Protection of
Freedom of Religion or Belief adopted by the meeting of the Foreign
Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 24 June 2013. Equal attention must be
given to the protection of religious sites and antiquities currently suffering
destruction in Artsakh/Nagorno Karabakh.
I pray that God shall continue to love, bless, and protect the people of
Armenia and Artsakh».