Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

The settlement of the long-lasting Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and restoration of the country’s territorial integrity will remain key foreign policy priority of Azerbaijan in 2016 as part of its internationally-recognized territories is still under Armenian occupation.

“Restoration of territorial integrity and elimination of consequences of Armenian occupation policy will remain a priority for Azerbaijan’s foreign policy in 2016,” said Foreign Ministry in a statement summarizing the major milestones of the year of 2015.

Though no tangible results were achieved in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process last year, Azerbaijan could draw attention of international community to the conflict, expose invader Armenia’s lies and exhibit the country’s right position on the problem.

The country's diplomatic activities focused on strengthening international efforts aimed at resolution of the conflict within the framework of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and internationally-recognized borders of Azerbaijan. In this regard, 2015 was marked with a series of decisions by prestigious international institutions, according to the ministry.

The 42nd session of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation adopted a resolution in late May condemning Armenia’s continuous aggression against Azerbaijan.

In the resolution entitled “Aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan”, the organization demanded from Armenia to withdraw its troops from the Azerbaijani lands and implement all UN Security Council resolutions on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The member states stressed the importance of resolving the conflict based on Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of internationally recognized borders.

The decisions of Europe’s important political and legal institutions in 2015 also reflected the need to eliminate the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan, according to the foreign ministry.

The European Court of Human Rights confirming the fact of occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia with its decision dated June 16, has rejected Armenia’s claims allegedly it has not occupied Azerbaijani lands. The decision has identified that Armenia has had a decisive influence on the separatist regime established in Azerbaijan’s occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region from the first days of the conflict and that it maintained effective control over the occupied territories.

The Foreign Ministry said with this decision ECHR legally justified the position in the international community who refuse to recognize the legitimacy of the situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan that was formed with use of force against the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and observed with other serious violations, including ethnic cleansing.

Furthermore, inadmissibility of the use of force against the territorial integrity of states, and the illegality of the situation created with this mean was highlighted in the resolution at a meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly last July.

The resolution initiated by Azerbaijan, voiced support to the resolution of conflicts in the OSCE area within the sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of internationally recognized borders and the right of the displaced people, driven from their homes by force, to safely return to their homes.

In November, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has made firm decisions on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

PACE’s political affairs committee approved on November 4 the draft resolution for “the withdrawal of Armenian armed forces and other irregular armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and the other occupied territories of Azerbaijan and the establishment of the full sovereignty of Azerbaijan in these territories," within the framework of the OSCE Minsk process.

Afterwards, PACE committee on social affairs adopted on November 23 the draft resolution on "Intentional Deprivation of Residents of Azerbaijani Border Regions of Water." The document condemned Armenia’s deliberately creating an environmental crisis in the occupied lands and an “environmental aggression” and demanded the Armenian leadership to stop using water resources as political influence or pressure tool.

Both draft resolutions will be discussed for adoption in the PACE session in January.

Despite the calls and requirements of the international community Armenia continued its illegal activities in the occupied territories and attempted to hold so-called "elections" in these areas. These steps that counteract the international rule of law were unequivocally condemned by the international community.

The Foreign Ministry said as a result of the enlightening events on Armenia's aggressive policy and its consequences, active has been done for the recognition of the Khojaly genocide, committed by the Armenian vandals in 1992, in the international arena.

The OIC Council of Ministers adopted a special resolution on the genocide and Guatemala legislative body, as well as legislative structures of Pennsylvania, Arizona and Connecticut states of the U.S. adopted resolutions on the genocide.

The ministry also defined the protection of its independence and sovereignty, and worthily representing Azerbaijan’s national interests on international arena as one of the priorities of the country’s foreign policy in the next year.

2015 remembered with the growth of the international prestige of Azerbaijan and strengthening of its role and place in the international arena.

Last year, Azerbaijan has expanded both bilateral and multilateral international relations, as it aims to realize its wide opportunities in and potential in the regional and international level.

The country acted as the organizer of events, and had a positive impact on the processes in the international arena and the problems faced by the states and nations.

The country will pay special attention to development of bilateral relations on a balanced and equitable basis in the current year.

The ministry said implementation of major regional energy and transportation projects, and participation in intercultural dialogue will be aimed at strengthening Azerbaijan’s position in political, economic and humanitarian spheres.

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

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