Azernews.Az

BAKU – Azerbaijan’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations Tofig Musayev has told the UN Security Council that efforts to foster "a peaceful, just and prosperous world" had not always been consistent and successful, causing continued suffering of civilians during armed conflict, according to the UN SC’s website.

"As was known, the Council had, in resolutions adopted in 1993 in response to the occupation of Azerbaijani territories [by Armenia], made specific references to violations of international humanitarian law, including the displacement of a large number of civilians, attacks on civilians and bombardment of inhabited areas," Musayev told an open debate at the UN SC. "The European Court of Human Rights later described the behavior of those carrying out the incursion in Azerbaijan ‘as acts of particular gravity which may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity’."

Musayev said Azerbaijan believed that ending impunity was essential, not only to identify individual criminal responsibility, but to ensure sustainable peace and reconciliation. "It is also essential that peace agreements should never encourage the acceptance of any situation resulting from the unlawful use of force, nor promise amnesties for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and gross human rights violations."

The deputy ambassador said particular consideration must also be given to civilian protection in armed conflicts that were aggravated by population displacements and foreign occupations.