(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 29. Azerbaijan's Human
Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) Sabina Aliyeva issued a statement
in connection with March 31 - the Day of the Genocide of
Azerbaijanis, Trend reports.
“Armenian nationalists living with the dream of establishing a
'Greater Armenia' state have purposefully pursued a policy of
genocide, ethnic cleansing and deportation of the Azerbaijani
people throughout history,” the statement said.“The most horrific
manifestation of this policy is the act of genocide committed from
March 1918.”
According to the statement, as a result of this act of genocide,
tens of thousands of civilians were killed in Baku, other cities
and provinces of Baku Governorate, as well as in Shamakhi, Guba
provinces, Karabakh, Zangazur, Nakhchivan, Lankaran and other
regions of Azerbaijan due to their ethnic and religious
background.
“Furthermore, settlements, cultural monuments, mosques and other
places of worship, cemeteries were destroyed,” the statement said.
“Some 110 villages of Shamakhi, 167 villages of Guba, more than 150
villages of Karabakh, 115 villages of Zangazur and 98 villages of
Kars were destroyed, burned and their inhabitants were killed.”
According to the statement, over 50,000 Azerbaijanis, including
women, children and the elderly, were killed as a result of bloody
crimes committed by Armenian armed groups in Baku, Shamakhi, Guba,
Mugan, Lankaran and Goychay cities and districts from March through
July 1918.
“Furthermore, 199 villages were destroyed in and around the
historical territory of Azerbaijan - Iravan city, as a result of
which 132,000 Azerbaijanis were killed,” the statement said.
According to the statement, despite more than a century has
passed since this genocide, those bloody events have not been
forgotten.
“The Presidential Decree 'On the Genocide of Azerbaijanis'
signed by National Leader Heydar Aliyev on March 26, 1998, was an
important step in revealing the historical truth,” the statement
said.“Consequently, a political assessment was given to these
horrific events and March 31 was declared the 'Day of the Genocide
of Azerbaijanis'.”
According to the statement, as a result of the investigation,
the facts of mass extermination committed by Armenia during the
events of 1918, countless human bones and other material evidence
were revealed.
“The 'Genocide Memorial Complex' was established in Guba city
upon the appropriate Order of President of the Republic of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to convey this truth to the international
community and to memorize the genocide victims,” the statement
said.“Every year, thousands of people visit this place to
commemorate the memory of our murdered compatriots.”
“According to international law, genocide is considered the most
serious crime against peace and humanity,” the statement said.
“Unfortunately, despite there is enough evidence and proof about
the acts of genocide committed by Armenia against Azerbaijanis,
there has been no adequate response to these crimes against
humanity, and double standards have been demonstrated in respect of
Azerbaijan.”
“In this regard, the Resolution dated March 10, 2022, adopted by
the European Parliament on the alleged destruction of the Armenian
cultural heritage in Karabakh once again demonstrated double
standards and biased policy against our country,” the statement
said.
According to the statement, during the last 30 years of
occupation, Armenia, which has committed numerous crimes against
the Azerbaijani civilians, purposefully and systematically
destroyed all Azerbaijani historical, cultural, religious
monuments, archeological sites, libraries, museums, artifacts, rare
manuscripts and cemeteries.
“Despite the Azerbaijani side's repeated calls during these
years, no fact-finding mission has been established by relevant
international organizations to investigate these issues on the
spot,” the statement said.
“The failure to respond to ethnic cleansing and genocide
committed by Armenia against the Azerbaijani people for many years,
along with acts of vandalism against our cultural heritage, is a
clear example of discrimination and indifference to states and
contradicts the principles of international humanitarian law,” the
statement said.
According to the statement, international organizations should
take into account that, unlike mono-ethnic Armenia, Azerbaijan, as
a state following the principles of tolerance and values of
multiculturalism, is taking all necessary steps to ensure peace,
stability and security in the South Caucasus, and to restore the
peaceful coexistence of nations.
“I believe that international organizations and the
international community must demonstrate a fair and transparent
approach with regard to the investigation into crimes against
civilians, and the facts and evidence-based cases of destruction of
cultural heritage belonging to Azerbaijanis,” the statement
said.
“I once again revere the memory of the victims of the genocide
against Azerbaijanis and call on the international community and
international organizations to give necessary political and legal
assessment of this act of genocide to protect human rights and
prevent the recurrence of such cases in the future.
This statement was addressed to the UN Secretary-General, UN
Security Council, Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights,
Office of UN High Commissioner for Refugees, UN Human Rights
Council, the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the European
Union, the Council of Europe, Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe, International and European Ombudsman
Institutions, Asian Ombudsman Association, Organization of Islamic
Cooperation and the Ombudsman Association of its member states,
etc.
Tags:
- Azerbaijan
- Armenia
- Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis
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