US mediator compares occupied district to post-war Warsaw
US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group brokering settlement to the
Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict was appalled by his observations
in the Armenia-occupied Aghdam district of Azerbaijan, comparing it
to post-war Warsaw.
"Aghdam is a devastated town. The strongest and troubling impression I had was the fact that I didn`t see anything there except destruction - there were neither normal housing nor life," Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza said while recalling his visit to the area.
He drew a parallel between the ancient Azerbaijani town and the Polish capital after World War II, saying he was an ethnic Pole and sensed the pain from the devastation of the land of his forefathers.
"I was deeply troubled indeed after seeing Aghdam firsthand. I am not Azerbaijani but it affected me very badly as a human being. I therefore understand why this conflict is so painful for Azerbaijanis."
July 23 marked the 15th anniversary of Aghdam`s occupation by Armenian forces. Prior to the invasion by Armenian thugs, i.e. before July 23, 1993, the district had an area of 1,094 square kilometers. 882 sq. km of the area is currently under occupation. 128,000 people out of Aghdam`s population of 150,000 have been ousted from their homes. Damage to the tune of over $13.1 billion has been inflicted to the district.
Armenia, which is pursuing a policy of ethnic cleansing and occupation, has been occupying over 20% of Azerbaijani territory since the early 1990s in defiance of international law.
"Aghdam is a devastated town. The strongest and troubling impression I had was the fact that I didn`t see anything there except destruction - there were neither normal housing nor life," Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza said while recalling his visit to the area.
He drew a parallel between the ancient Azerbaijani town and the Polish capital after World War II, saying he was an ethnic Pole and sensed the pain from the devastation of the land of his forefathers.
"I was deeply troubled indeed after seeing Aghdam firsthand. I am not Azerbaijani but it affected me very badly as a human being. I therefore understand why this conflict is so painful for Azerbaijanis."
July 23 marked the 15th anniversary of Aghdam`s occupation by Armenian forces. Prior to the invasion by Armenian thugs, i.e. before July 23, 1993, the district had an area of 1,094 square kilometers. 882 sq. km of the area is currently under occupation. 128,000 people out of Aghdam`s population of 150,000 have been ousted from their homes. Damage to the tune of over $13.1 billion has been inflicted to the district.
Armenia, which is pursuing a policy of ethnic cleansing and occupation, has been occupying over 20% of Azerbaijani territory since the early 1990s in defiance of international law.
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