Azerbaijani MFA comments on joint statement of EP delegation to the Parliamentary Partnership Committees for the South Caucasus

Azerbaijani MFA comments on joint statement of EP delegation  to the Parliamentary Partnership Committees for the South Caucasus
# 03 February 2021 14:16 (UTC +04:00)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan has commented on the joint statement of the European Parliament delegation to the Parliamentary Partnership Committees for the South Caucasus, the press service of the Ministery told APA.

"Issuing a joint statement on "The need to continue negotiations on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict" by Members of the European Parliament (EP), Marina Kaljurand, Chair of the Delegation to the Parliamentary Partnership Committees for the European Union (EU) and the South Caucasus, European Parliament's standing rapporteur on Armenia, Andrey Kovatchev and EP's standing rapporteur on Azerbaijan, MEP Željana Zovko, shows that although the members of the European Parliament are, generally, in favor of ensuring peace and stability in the region on the basis of the basic principles of international law, they are still not fully aware of the current situation in the region.

Firstly, we would like to bring to the attention of EP members that it was put an end to the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict which the European Parliament has called for a solution to for years on the basis of the principles of international law, as well as UN Security Council resolutions and Azerbaijan has restored its territorial integrity and ensured the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions dated 1993 alone. In other words, the principles of inviolability of borders and territorial integrity of states of Helsinki Final Act which is referring to the members of the EP and forming the basis of interstate relations, are guided.

A new reality has established in the region with a trilateral statement signed on November 10, 2020. The members of the European Parliament noted that the mentioned trilateral statement leads to ensuring stability in the region is estimable. Because in the current stage in order to ensure peace and safety in the region, as well as building trust between the sides, namely, the implementation of the trilateral agreement and taking relevant steps in this field is important.

The Azerbaijani side, in turn, is taking all necessary steps to implement the agreement, including in the field of humanitarian issues, but the commitment of the Armenian side to this statement is questionable. It would be good if the members of the European Parliament would ask the Armenian side why they sent a group of saboteurs to the territory of Azerbaijan almost 20 days after signing a joint statement on the cessation of hostilities. Perhaps understood that the Armenian servicemen in question at that time were not prisoners of war at all, but members of a terrorist saboteur group that was purposefully sent to Azerbaijan after the ceasefire was declared. In general, Armenia's deployment of military personnel to commit terrorist acts after the ceasefire is a clear demonstration of its disrespect for the basic principles of the Eastern Partnership and the European values ​​in general.

As for the cultural heritage, the members of the European Parliament should be well aware that as a result of decades of illegal activities by Armenia in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, almost all historical, cultural, and religious heritage has been destroyed, destroyed, looted. The same crime was committed in connection with the change of origin of war crimes. Although this issue has been raised by Azerbaijan on international platforms, including during our contacts with EU institutions, it is unfortunate that the members of the European Parliament have not yet made a single statement on this issue. We would like to bring to the attention of the members of the Parliament that all the monuments in Karabakh belong to the historical, cultural, and religious heritage of the Azerbaijani people. Azerbaijan is a multicultural country and all monuments on its territory are protected at the state level. The protection of the rich heritage of our country will continue to be provided at a high level, including the restoration, repair, and reconstruction of monuments in the liberated territories," says Azerbaijani MFA.

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