Pakistan once again condemns occupation of Azerbaijani lands
By Rashid Shirinov
Pakistan has reiterated its support to Azerbaijan on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution and condemned the occupation and ethnic cleanings policy of aggressor Armenia.
The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs of Pakistan’s National Assembly has passed a resolution condemning the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia, the Pakistani TV channel’s website khybernews.tv reported.
The resolution was passed during the meeting of the Committee held in Islamabad on February 3. The resolution also condemned the genocide committed by Armenian armed forces in the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly on February 26, 1992, against civilian population.
The Committee re-affirmed the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders, further demanding implementation of resolutions of the UN Security Council and General Assembly on immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of all Armenian forces from all the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.
The Committee supported the efforts of Azerbaijan to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by peaceful means.
Pakistan and Azerbaijan enjoy close and cooperative relations, which are underpinned by commonalities of history, culture and faith. The baku-Islamabad ties are characterized by mutual respect, shared perceptions and common desire to promote peace, stability and development in the region.
The two countries also share common views on major regional and international issues and cooperate closely in the regional and multilateral forums, including the UN, the OIC and the ECO.
Pakistan is the only country which has not recognized Armenia due to its illegal occupation of the Azerbaijani lands. Islamabad repeatedly stressed the need for early settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by peaceful means and in accordance with the relevant UN, OIC and OSCE resolutions.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.
While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign State with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years.
Armenia ignores four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping tension high in the region.
---
Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz