Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

July 4 was a truly significant day in the history of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as Armenia was labeled a real aggressor at its parliament for the first time in the history of modern Armenia, and a view was clearly voiced in the country's national assembly that Armenia occupied Azerbaijani territory and committed the Khojaly genocide.

The statement was voiced by Moldovan Ombudsman Aurelia Grigoriu at the Pan-European Conference in the parliament, where Grigoriu delivered a presentation on "Respect for human rights in areas of frozen conflicts," and was met with applause from some participants of the event.

While reporting to the parliament of Armenia, the Moldovan lawyer stated that Armenia's aggression against Azerbaijan, which has continued for more than 25 years, is accompanied by massive violations of basic human rights principles and generally accepted norms of international law.

Grigoriu referred to facts substantiating her remarks and mentioned the United Nations Security Council's four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory, and the UN General Assembly resolution on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

"As a result of Armenian hostilities and massacres 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed, 100,000 were injured, and 50,000 disabled," she said.

According to Grigoriu, Azerbaijanis in Armenia fell victim of ethnic cleansing and were deprived of basic human rights. The ouster was accompanied by acts of mayhem and killings. The occupation of the Azerbaijani territories was accompanied by acts of genocide.

"One of the terrible tragedies faced by the people of Azerbaijan in the 20th century was the genocide in Khojaly," Grigoriu said.

"The Khojaly genocide was committed by Armenians, and this is an internationally recognized fact," she said.

According to her, Armenia's aggression against Azerbaijan became the biggest obstacle on the way of development of the South Caucasus region and integration into Europe.

Grigoriu cited all the well-known facts on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, however, after the truthful speech she was not allowed to leave Armenia with the Moldovan delegation, and was kept in isolation, moreover, her life was threatened.

Moldova's Embassy in Azerbaijan said it completely shares what Ombudsman Grigoriu said with respect to the Khojaly genocide.

Octavian Ionesie, charge d'affaires of the Embassy, said the Moldovan Ombudsman, whose life was at risk in Armenia, is now back in her country.

Grigoriu told the Azerbaijani press that she had been advised to make an apologetic statement to leave the country without difficulty.

"Diplomats and people who were constantly in contact with me called me, saying that I should apologize. Of course, those people were connected with the Armenian side," Grigoriu said.

According to Grigoriu, in her speech, she stated the information that is completely true and confirmed by international organizations. "I do not believe I should apologize to anyone."

After the incident, Armenian media circulated reports alleging that Grigoriu had been bribed by the Azerbaijani authorities. Grigoriu said this is a lie, provocation and a cheap PR move from the Armenian side.

"Generally, I visit many countries and deliver reports in many countries. I come to Azerbaijan for international conferences once a year as Ombudsman, and that is not the reason to claim that someone bribed me," she told Azerbaijani news agency APA.

The Azerbaijani side has voiced support for the Moldovan Ombudsman.

Azerbaijani Ombudsman Elmira Suleymanova condemned the pressure and restrictions on the freedom of the Moldovan Ombudsman in Armenia, Suleymanova's statement published on July 8 said.

Exerting pressure for stating a historical fact which is recognized by the international community and international organizations, against a person who is engaged in the protection of human rights and is a representative of a foreign country, once again demonstrated to the world that Armenia is not a legal, democratic state, the statement said.

Thus, Suleymanova believes that Armenia shows that it ignores the resolutions of the UN and the Council of Europe, as well as its obligations to respect human rights which the country assumed before these organizations.

By violating and restricting the rights of the Moldovan Ombudsman, the Armenian authorities have grossly violated relevant norms of international law, Suleymanova said.

The Azerbaijani Ombudsman urged international organizations, including all of her colleagues, not to remain indifferent to this incident.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said on July 8 that Azerbaijan is observing the course of events relating to the incident involving Ombudsman Grigoriu to prevent any further pressure or use of any repressions against her.

According to Mammadyarov, the Azerbaijani ambassador to Moldova is following the events.

According to the Head of the Political Analysis and Information Provision Department at the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Elnur Aslanov, Armenia`s move against the Moldovan Ombudsman is yet another evidence that Yerevan is far from a constructive and rational policy.

"The Armenian leadership once again demonstrated that it is far from constructive negotiations. Now, other countries and their representatives understand that it is Armenia that is against peace and stability in the region," Aslanov said.

"The Moldovan Ombudsman called Armenia to peace and to demonstrate a rational position and to recognize the Khojaly genocide. That was not unusual. The Armenian president himself admitted that the Khojaly genocide was committed by Armenians to frighten Azerbaijanis," he said.

"This means that the new stage of state terrorism pursued by the Armenian leadership continues. We have always witnessed the Armenian leadership`s fanaticism towards terror organizations and their representatives...The country has always backed terrorist organizations and their members," he added.

Aslanov believes that European institutions should not keep silent over the latest developments.

According to him, if a given country violates human rights, especially the rights of a representative of another country, then representatives of the European Parliament should meet and express their position. Thus, the EU, the Council of Europe and the Western world as a whole once again will demonstrate that they do not support double standards in any matter, but protect human rights and strive for them, he said.

"We are grateful to the countries which have recognized the Khojaly genocide and hope other countries will march in step with them," Aslanov added.

The US Azeris Network (USAN) has called on the US authorities to condemn the actions of the Armenian government with respect to the Moldovan Ombudsman.

"Essentially, the Armenian authorities are blackmailing the foreign country's Ombudsman through intimidation, harassment, and life threats, which together essentially amount to state terrorism.

"All aid to Armenia should be cut, and the White House, the State Department and Congress should speak firmly with Armenia to honor its obligations, to allow freedom of speech and travel for the Moldovan Ombudsman, and for Armenia to come to terms with its history and admit the Khojaly massacre," USAN said in a statement.

The Khojaly massacre is one of the most heinous and bloodiest events of the 20th century. Late into the night of February 25, 1992, the town of Khojaly, situated within the administrative borders of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, came under intensive fire from the towns of Khankendi and Askeran already occupied by Armenian armed forces. The Armenian forces, supported by the ex-Soviet 366th regiment, completed the surrounding of the town already isolated due to ethnic cleansing of the Azerbaijani population of the neighboring regions. The joint forces occupied the town, which was ruined by heavy artillery shelling.

Thousands of fleeing civilians were ambushed by the Armenian forces. Punitive teams of the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh defense army reached the unprotected civilians to slaughter them, mutilating some of the bodies. 613 civilians, including 106 women, 70 elderly and 83 children, were killed in the massacre. A total of 1,000 civilians were disabled. Eight families were exterminated, and 25 children lost both parents, while 130 children lost one parent. Moreover, 1,275 innocent people were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 remains unknown.

Armenia occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions, after laying territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor that had caused a lengthy war in the early 1990s. The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenia's withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory, but they have not been enforced to this day.