President of the Armenian Association in Catalonia welcomes Catalan parliament's decision to condemn attacks in Armenia

These past months, Catalonia has seen a range of actions surrounding the attacks in Azerbaijan and Armenia, including parliamentary declarations condemning Azerbaijan’s use of force. October saw a protest from Armenians on the AP-7 motorway near the Pyrenees, which caused blockages for four hours. Sarkis Hakobyan, the president of ‘L'Associació d'Armènia a Catalunya, Ararat’ (The Armenian Association in Catalonia, Ararat), talked to Cataln News about the issue and Catalonia’s reaction.

Does Catalonia have a strong Armenian community? Historically, what is the community like?

"The Armenian community in Catalonia represents more or less 7,500 people according to the official census and they are spread out between different cities and different provinces. Mainly, they are concentrated in Barcelona and its province with approximately 4,000 citizens. They are organized in associations and organizations. "

"Currently, three cultural associations exist which are ‘Hayq Barcelona’, ‘L'associació Cultural Armenia Barcelona’ and ‘L'Associació d'Armènia a Catalunya Ararat’ that works in a more global environment between the different Catalan provinces and cities."

On October 22, the Catalan parliament condemned the attacks by Azerbaijan and supported self-determination for the Republic of Artsakh, whilst many countries remained neutral, were you expecting this as an association?

"This was a very important declaration, as you know since September 27 attacks began by Azerbaijan forces with unconditional support from Turkey. They have attacked Armenian territory. They have also begun to bomb the civilian population so in the face of this, the international community’s reaction was and is important. From our point of view, we believe that the only solution to this conflict is through diplomatic and political routes."

"We ask for the international recognition of the Republic of Artsakh. We made a petition to the Catalan government as an Armenian entity, as an association, when they voted. But also I have to say that before this we had presented a letter demanding recognition and condemnation of the attacks, so there was already this proposition on the parliament’s table."

"We celebrate this declaration. We are very grateful that the parliament of Catalonia, as they do represent part of this international community, (when) Armenians as well as the Republic of Artsakh have called for recognition and condemnation of the attacks, the parliament of Catalonia has been one of those institutions that has listened to these calls and has condemned the attacks on behalf of their people." 

"We had hoped and hoped that they could also recognize the Republic of Artsakh but unfortunately this could not be done."