Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has warned Music 4 Peace NGO over the planned concert in Azerbaijan’s occupied territories, saying its activity is contrary to its name.

Hikmet Hajiyev, Spokesman for the Azerbaijani foreign ministry made the remark on February 4 commenting on the information that Music 4 Peace NGO will hold a concert on February 6 in Azerbaijan’s territories occupied by Armenia.

“More than one million Azerbaijani people were subjected to the ethnic cleansing and military strikes in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan,” Hajiyev said.

Stressing that holding a concert in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan promotes aggression and occupation, rather than serves the peace, he said it also violates the rights of more than one million refugees and internally displaced persons.

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

Hajiyev further said Music 4 Peace NGO must realize its responsibility and give up such provocative actions. “Otherwise, the individuals, who will visit the occupied territories illegally, will be included in a list of undesirable persons in Azerbaijan,” he said.

Hajiyev also said the issue of using UNESCO’s logo on the website of this NGO’s project will be raised for UNESCO.

Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry and diplomatic missions pay special attention to the illegal activity in the occupied areas of Azerbaijan. The work is constantly carried out to prevent such illegal actions.

Unauthorized visits to Nagorno-Karabakh and other regions of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenia are considered illegal, and the individuals who pay such visits are included in Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's "black list".

Azerbaijan has repeatedly warned foreign officials and diplomats of unauthorized visits to its territories that are occupied by Armenia, calling them contradictory to international laws.

--

Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SaraRajabova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz