Spokesman: UN Supreme Commissariat should pay attention to massive violations of Azerbaijanis' rights by Armenia
By Rashid Shirinov
Azerbaijan calls on the UN Commissariat on Human Rights to pay special attention to the facts of gross violation of international humanitarian law by Armenia, in particular to the massive violations of the rights of Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced persons.
"Unfortunately, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, for more than 20 years remains silent about the violation of the rights of Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced persons," Spokesman of Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Hikmet Hajiyev told Trend.
The bloody ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijanis in the territories of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenia, including the perpetration of Khojaly genocide and destruction of cultural heritage, public and private property belonging to the people of Azerbaijan, destruction of natural resources, deliberate and systematic attacks on property and civilians, exposure of detained persons and hostages to enormous physical and psychological torture, and mass killings are a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, he added.
Armenia as a state is responsible for illegal actions at the international level. Moreover, its actions on violation of international humanitarian law and human rights during the conflict are characterized as a crime under international criminal law, said Hajiyev.
Continuous crimes by Armenia are not an accident, but the result of a purposeful policy of Armenia held at the state level. The activities conducted at the national level and within the international legal framework will serve for bringing to justice the perpetrators of serious crimes against Azerbaijan during Armenian aggression.
The permanent mission of Azerbaijan to the UN in Geneva and offices in other international organizations once again raised the question at the Council meeting on human rights held on 14 September, Hajiyev noted.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.
Armenia still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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