(MENAFN- AzerNews) By trend
Chairman of the Caucasian Muslims Office Allahshukur Pashazade
sent a letter on peaceful protests [of Azerbaijani non-governmental
organizations] on Azerbaijan's Lachin-Khankandi road against the
environmental terrorism committed by Armenia, to Pope Francis, the
office told trend on December 22.
According to the letter, as a result of the 2020 second Karabakh
war, the people of Azerbaijan liberated their ancestral lands,
recognized by the international community, which were occupied by
neighboring Armenia for nearly 30 years.
“For us, it is obvious that your concern comes from the false,
and, as usual, biased appeal addressed to Your Holiness and to the
other Heads of Religious Centers and Churches by
Catholicos-Patriarch of Armenians Garegin II regarding the
so-called blocking of the humanitarian Lachin-Khankandi road
connecting the Armenian minority in Karabakh with Armenia,” the
letter noted.
“...the above-mentioned road has never been blocked by
Azerbaijan. Those who did this are the Russian peacekeepers
(temporarily stationed in the area), and the Azerbaijani
authorities have repeatedly officially declared that Azerbaijan has
not imposed any restrictions on the passing of vehicles on the
Lachin road. As for the organization of transition of citizens,
goods, and vehicles, it is the responsibility of the Russian
peacekeeping forces,” the letter said.
“However, aiming to defame Azerbaijan in the eyes of the World
Community and trying to portray it in inhumane character, the
Armenian side spreads insidious misinformation, conducts biased
propaganda against our country and makes false claims. We are very
sorry that the Armenian Apostolic Church under the influence of
Armenian politicians is particularly active in this,” the letter
pointed out.
The verity, according to the conducted investigations, is
illegal exploitation activities that are carried out in the
'Gizilbulag' gold field and the 'Damirli' copper-molybdenum field
of the Karabakh region where the peacekeepers are temporarily
deployed, the letter emphasized.
“Despite the prior agreement on the monitoring of this activity,
reached by independent activists through the peacekeepers, the
separatist regime did not let the eco-activists enter those
facilities,” the letter further noted.
Besides, according to the letter, the rally of the
representatives of the civil society, which is going on for more
than a week, under the slogans against the looting of natural
resources and serious damage to the environment, is a peaceful one
and doesn't create an obstacles related to the Lachin-Khankandi
road.
“The peaceful protestors demand an on-the-spot inspection of the
said fields, the cessation of illegal exploitation, monitoring and
inventorying in various directions, assessment of potential risks
to the environment and elimination of the consequences of damage,”
the letter said.
Claims of the Armenian side, and the Etchmiadzin [the governing
body of the Armenian Apostolic Church] in particular, that the
peaceful protest rally of the eco-activists caused a humanitarian
crisis is completely false, as the humanitarian corridor is active,
the letter said.
The Pope was also informed that the videos from the protest site
show that humanitarian cargo trucks and emergency ambulances pass
unhindered along the road. In case of humanitarian problems, a
hotline has been established for Armenians living in Karabakh for
the prompt resolution of their appeals.
It is no coincidence that around 300 Azerbaijani civilians
suffered from the newly planted landmines after the signing of the
trilateral statement – they were either killed or disabled for
life. A total of 350 Armenia-made mines produced in 2021 have
recently been detected in the Azerbaijani lands. Eight compatriots
became the latest mine victims in Kalbajar district on December 14,
said the letter.
'You have been to Azerbaijan, got acquainted with the
multicultural values and traditions of our multi-ethnic,
multi-confessional country, and have had an opportunity to observe
how citizens of different ethnic and religious identities live
happily and practice freely their spiritual customs, equally enjoy
the attention and care of the state. You are a living witness of
Azerbaijan's respectful attitude and attention to traditional
religious values in our country and worldwide,' the letter
said.
Pashazade wrote that like more than 30,000 Armenians living in
multicultural Azerbaijan, Armenians living in Karabakh are also
citizens of the country, however, they have become hostages of the
separatist regime.
'The rhetoric of some political figures in Armenia, pressure
from the diaspora, as well as the statements of the Armenian church
increase revanchist sentiments that threaten peace. Such statements
do not promote the dialogue of the Azerbaijani authorities with
local ethnic Armenians. However, Azerbaijan is the most interested
party in such a dialogue to complete the reintegration process. We
wish peace and are engaged in peace-building. We're working hard to
revive Karabakh, which was turned into ruins during the occupation.
This will allow the entire region to benefit from large-scale
projects that serve common security and economic well-being of
Azerbaijanis and Armenians living together in Karabakh. Our supreme
hope is to establish lasting sustainable and tranquility,' the
letter stressed.
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