Baku vows commitment to peace talks with Armenia & human rights protection
By Vugar Khalilov
Azerbaijan remains committed to the peace talks with Armenia, as well as the protection of human rights, Azernews reports, citing the Foreign Ministry.
The ministry made a statement on the rejection by the International Court of Justice (October 20) of Yerevan’s petition to amend the court ruling of December 7, 2021, on provisional measures in the case initiated by Armenia against Azerbaijan amid September clashes on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border.
“Azerbaijan remains committed to the ongoing peace process and negotiations, as well as to the protection of the rights of all people within the framework of international law,” the ministry stressed.
The ministry emphasized that the aforementioned decision is compatible with Azerbaijan's resolve to treat any Armenian inmates humanely and without prejudice in line with the court's prior order, as well as its international and domestic commitments.
Furthermore, as announced by the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's Office on September 17 October 2, 2022, a detailed investigation is currently underway in relation to the video clips that have been circulated anonymously on social media, allegedly depicting the illegal actions of Azerbaijani military personnel, the ministry said.
Several criminal investigations have been launched over the previously authenticated video clips, and the involved individuals have been held accountable for their misdeeds, it added.
“By contrast, no steps have been taken by Armenia to prosecute those who committed numerous war crimes and are responsible for other illegal acts against Azerbaijani military personnel and civilians. This includes planting over 1,400 new landmines in the territory of Azerbaijan since the Trilateral Statement was signed and the relentless rocket attacks on densely populated civilian cities, like Ganja during the 44-day war, the second anniversary of which was commemorated recently,” the ministry underlined.
Both Azerbaijan and international observers, including the Council of Europe's Special Rapporteur and the EU's Special Representative for the South Caucasus, have repeatedly urged Armenia to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of war crimes depicted in video clips that widely circulated on social media.
“Armenia must be held accountable for its conduct by the international community,” the ministry added.
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