Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

A group of European parliamentarians who are on a visit to Azerbaijan has made a tour of Aghdam region occupied by Armenian forces.

Iceland parliament member Ogmundur Yonasson and well-known Finland political figure, former member of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Jaakko Laakso visited Aghdam on January 15.

During the tour the MPs were briefed about the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the living condition of people who have been displaced as a result of Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan.

The Armenians invaded most of Aghdam's territory on July 23, 1993. The Armenian aggressors seized 882 sq. km. of the 1,094 sq. km. territory of Aghdam, including one city and 82 villages.

Some 145,000 people of 180,000 became internally displaced. They are now settled in 62 regions of the country.

Armenia ignores four UN Security Council resolutions in 1993, demanding the peaceful resolution of the conflict, the liberation of occupied territories, the return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes. It has also ignored resolutions of other international organizations on the conflict.

Azerbaijani government has implemented large-scale works on its own expenses to improve the living conditions of refugees and internally displaced persons.

Some 17 settlements were built for internally displaced people only in Aghdam. At the present, 50,000 people of 90,000 living in the territory are the internally displaced persons.

Despite enjoying improved living conditions, the displaced Azerbaijani say they only want to return to their homeland.

The MPs also watched a film entitled "Caucasian Hiroshima", including footage of before and after the occupation of Aghdam.

They also visited a school in a settlement in Guzanli village and home of the internally displaced persons. Then, the MPs closely watched the living conditions of the people living in Chiragli village located on the frontline.

They were informed that the Armenian armed forces frequently violate the ceasefire in the region by attacking the civilian population, houses and cattle in these areas.

The ceasefire violations continue to claim the lives of innocent people.

Frequent ceasefire violations occur almost every day, putting in trouble the people living near the frontline.

Island MP Yonasson told journalists that the purpose of the visit was to get more detailed information about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the plight of the internally displaced persons.

Expressing his regret that the OSCE Minsk Group failed to resolve the conflict, Yonasson said the international community should pay more attention to this problem.

As a result of the occupation of Aghdam, Azerbaijan is facing material damage worth a staggering $6.179 billion. The damage inflicted to the region's agriculture is estimated at 992.8 million manats ($1.272 billion). Over 6,000 people died during the fighting in Aghdam.

The ongoing illegal occupation of Aghdam and other territories of Azerbaijan as well as the plight of the Azerbaijani civilians expelled from their native lands serve as yet another reminder for the international community to vigorously push for justice, which can only be restored once the occupation ends and the displaced people are allowed to return to their homes.