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Baku says Armenia has no right to talk about ethnic tolerance

2 May 2014 13:36 (UTC+04:00)
Baku says Armenia has no right to talk about ethnic tolerance

By Sara Rajabova

An Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry official criticized the Armenian Foreign Ministry for making groundless statements.

Armenia, which grossly violates international law and conducts an ethnic cleansing policy, occupation, and aggression against Azerbaijani people, has no right to talk about ethnic and religious tolerance and moral values, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Spokesman Elman Abdullayev told journalists on May 1.

Abdullayev made the remarks commenting on a statement made by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian at the Armenian parliament on April 30.

Abdullayev said by making such statements, the Armenian Foreign Minister has once again demonstrated his understanding of international relations.

"Following traditions, the Armenian Foreign Minister tends to shift the problems of his state onto others," he said.

Abdullayev noted Armenia, which has committed crimes against humanity and is occupying the territory of a neighboring state, should be not only deprived of membership in the Council of Europe, but also sanctioned.

"The Azerbaijani people have a rich tradition of statehood, and are proud of their centuries-old tradition of tolerance. This tradition, which is a way of life for the Azerbaijani people, is recognized globally as progressive and an excellent example to be followed," Abdullayev said.

He went on to say Armenia should take the rich tradition of tolerance exhibited in Azerbaijan as an example too.

"Armenia, a country which has expelled Azerbaijanis from historical places of residence for their national identity, committing one of the most horrible and large-scale humanitarian disasters of the 20th century, today has turned into the most "exemplary " mono-ethnic state in the world," Abdullayev underlined.

Some 250,000 Azerbaijanis were expelled from Armenia and became refugees due to its ethnic cleansing policy after the emergence of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

He also noted that the statements of the Armenian leadership on the ethnic incompatibility of the two countries' peoples are a reflection of the racist viewpoint of the country's leadership.

"I wonder why Edward Nalbandian forgot the statement of his President so quickly. Yerevan should end its policy of hatred and territorial claims against its neighboring states and people, understand its responsibility for breaking the peace in the region, and prepare his people for peace," Abdullayev said.

He said Armenia, which continues to adhere to its non-constructive position under various pretexts, is preventing dialogue between the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of Nagorno-Karabakh, promotion of negotiations, and restoration of peace and stability 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.

As a result of Armenia's military invasion, over one million civilians of the occupied territories, as well as the regions bordering with Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh were left without homes.

The Azerbaijanis who had displaced from their homes due to the brutal war were forced to live in refugee camps, tents and wagons in very difficult conditions.

Over 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed, 4,866 are reported missing and almost 100,000 were injured, and 50,000 were disabled as a result of the military aggression of Armenia.

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 Armenian withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory, but they have not been enforced to this day.

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