On March 12, 2024, the European Parliament adopted Resolution 2024/2580(RSP), emphasizing the need for closer ties between the EU and Armenia and advocating for a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Resolution confirms with point R. that numerous Armenian churches, khachkars, and cemeteries in Nagorno-Karabakh were significantly damaged and destroyed by Azerbaijan during and after the 2020 war. Furthermore, Azerbaijan has not complied with the decision of the International Criminal Court made on December 7, 2021, which stated that Azerbaijan must "take all necessary measures to prevent and punish acts of vandalism and desecration of Armenian cultural heritage, including but not limited to churches, other places of worship, monuments, landmarks, sites, cemeteries, and artifacts."

The European Parliament has recently confirmed disturbing reports regarding the destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijani authorities over the past months. This includes the removal of monuments and symbolic buildings such as the National Assembly building.

In response to these actions, the Parliament has passed a resolution with a crucial 19th item:

• Expressing serious concern over the failure to preserve the cultural, religious, and historical heritage of the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh, which directly violates the decision made by the International Committee of the Red Cross on December 7, 2021.
• Condemning all instances of destruction, vandalism, and desecration of historical and cultural sites that signify the long-standing Armenian presence in Nagorno-Karabakh.
• Urging the Azerbaijani authorities to actively preserve, protect, and promote the rich and diverse heritage of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
• Calling upon UNESCO to take immediate and decisive measures to safeguard and protect the endangered Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh.
• Advocating for enhanced cooperation between Armenia and the European Union, and proposing the involvement of the EU Satellite Center in monitoring the systematic destruction of Armenian cultural heritage, including churches, monasteries, cemeteries, and monuments.

On March 15, 2024, prior to the adoption of the resolution, several members of the European Parliament, including Miriam Lexman and Andrey Kovachev, sent a letter to EU leaders urging active steps to protect Armenian cultural and religious heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh. The letter was addressed to the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Mezzola.

The letter emphasizes that for the protection of Nagorno-Karabakh's cultural heritage, the EU should deploy high-resolution satellite cameras with 24/7 surveillance capabilities to record any acts of vandalism. Additionally, it underscores the importance of recognizing the rights of the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh, including the right of return and the right to maintain and preserve their material and non-material heritage intact (https://en.armradio.am/2024/03/15/meps-call-on-eu-leaders-to-take-steps-towards-protection-of-armenian-cultural-and-religious-heritage-in-nagorno-karabakh).