Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

The community representatives of the occupied Kalbajar region of Azerbaijan appealed to the UN Security Council.

They appealed to Security Council for assistance in the issue related to the end of the Armenian occupation and the withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

This was said in the appeal of Kelbajar region community to the UN Security Council adopted on April 2 at an event marking the 21st anniversary of the region's occupation.

"Attacking on April 8 the Agdaban and Chaygovushan villages of Kalbajar region with a total population of about 800 people, the Armenian armed forces burned more than 130 homes, with tortures murdered 33 people, including two infants and eight elderly people aged 90-100 years, besides, seven women were taken hostage and 12 people were seriously injured. In April 1993, a similar tragedy occurred in the village Bashlybel, where 28 civilians were killed and 18 people were taken hostage. During Kalbajar region's occupation 511 people were killed, 665 people were taken hostage. 122 of the hostages were then returned, however, there is still no information about other hostages," the community said.

The appeal notes that before the occupation of the region there was no Armenian settlement.

It was also emphasized that Armenia is engaged in plundering the natural resources of the occupied territories.

The community said the Armenians from Syria, Lebanon and other places are placed in Kalbajar, while IDPs from this region live in temporary shelters in more than settlements and cities of the country.

"The U.N. Security Council adopted Resolution 822, demanding an unconditional release of Kelbajar by the Armenian armed forces has not been implemented yet. Armenia slows down the negotiation process, not wanting to leave the occupied territories," the community said.

Contrary to the UN and OSCE principles, the Armenians have pursued a purposeful settlement of people in Kalbajar since 1999.

April 2 marks the 21st anniversary of the occupation of Azerbaijan's Kalbajar region by the Armenian armed forces.

Launching a large-scale military operation on March 27, 1993, the Armenian armed forces occupied the Kalbajar region on April 2.

Kalbajar, an area of 1,936 square kilometers located outside Nagorno-Karabakh, was the scene of the torture of innocent people by the Armenian invaders.

After the occupation of Kalbajar, the Armenians continued to plunder natural resources and historical and religious monuments in the region.

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 caused a brutal war in the early 1990s. Long-standing efforts by U.S., Russian, and French mediators have been largely fruitless so far.

The UN Security Council has passed four resolutions on Armenia's withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory, but they have not been enforced to this day.