(MENAFN- AzerNews) Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in the
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of the Republic of Azerbaijan have
appealed to the international community, Azernews reports.
The appeal states:
"We - non-governmental organizations operating in the Nakhchivan
Autonomous Republic of the Republic of Azerbaijan, addressing the
international community, declare that the Nakhchivan Autonomous
Republic has been living under blockade for more than 30 years. For
almost 15 years, the population of Nakhchivan has been left without
gas due to the blockade, not even electricity. Energy lines coming
from the main part of Azerbaijan were cut by Armenia. Communication
between Nakhchivan and Baku was by railway and was cut off in 1992
after the last train from Megri was shelled.
The international community has not taken any steps to address
the problems of Nakhchivan's civilians as well as the blockade, nor
has it put any pressure on Armenia on this issue. Why has our
right-wing voice not been heard in all these years?
Armenia is still regularly shelling the population and
settlements of Nakhchivan. If it were not for the national leader
of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev and his worthy successor,
President Ilham Aliyev, Nakhchivan would have been occupied just
like Garabagh".
Armenia is building a metallurgical plant in Arazdeyan, an area
adjacent to Saderak, contrary to the requirements of the Espoo
Convention. This is a policy of ecological terror against the
people of Nakhchivan, who have been doomed to a blockade. Without
the consent of the government of Azerbaijan, the construction of a
heavy industrial plant in the mentioned cross-border area will lead
to the pollution of the environment, the air with toxic waste, and
the disruption of the ecosystem.
Armenia does not comply with the provisions of the tripartite
statement signed on November 10 after the 44-day war in 2020, and
does not take any measures to open the Zangezur corridor. At a time
when we are waiting for successive calls and sanctions from the
world community on Armenia, but the exact opposite is
happening.
Why did those who made statements one after the other based on
false information and slander about the alleged closure of the
Lachin road, and those who baselessly condemned the Azerbaijani
state, and never raised the issue of Nakhchivan being under
blockade for decades? Why didn't the ambassadors of foreign
countries who came to the direction of Lachin road and looked at
Azerbaijan with binoculars, say anything to remove the blockade of
Nakhchivan? This biased, hypocritical, approach infuriates us. If
the international world wants to see a real blockade in the region,
it can look at the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
In order to control its borders and prevent the provocations of
Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan established a border checkpoint
in Lachin. This border checkpoint prevents planting landminesin
Karabakh and the transferring terrorist sabotage groups to the
region. How to defend those who are subject to the death of
peaceful people? How can it be that Armenia wants a "corridor" from
the sovereign territory of another state, but refuses it, using its
sovereignty as an excuse. Isn't the concept of "sovereignty"
universal? If not, does the concept of "sovereignty" have a
different meaning for Armenia or is it an additional privilege for
it? If not, then why Zangezur corridor is not opened? Why is there
no pressure on Armenia? Unfortunately, these questions are not
answered.
We strongly condemn the policy of double standards implemented
against Azerbaijan, which liberated its lands by its own power
after 30 years of occupation, built cities and villages from
scratch in the territories completely destroyed and wiped off the
face of the earth by Armenia, and returned internally displaced
persons to their homelands.
The hope of the people of Nakhchivan, who have been living under
blockade for more than 30 years, is to establish a land connection
with other regions of Azerbaijan through the Zangezur corridor, and
to open communications in the region. The Zangezur corridor should
be opened, the blockade should be removed. How can it be that the
Azerbaijani government creates communication opportunities for the
Armenian residents living in Karabakh through the Lachin road, and
also offers the Aghdam-Khankendi road, but Armenia does not allow
the people of Nakhchivan to move to the other part of Azerbaijan,
even on humanitarian grounds. We demand that the world community
forces Armenia to implement the Zangezur corridor project!
We often observe that the International Committee of the Red
Cross carries out transportation through Lachin on a humanitarian
basis. We also call on the International Committee of the Red Cross
to ensure communication between the main part of Azerbaijan and the
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
Signatures:
1. Majid Seyidov, Chairman of the Organization of Azerbaijan
Patriotic War Veterans and Martyrs' Families of Nakhchivan
Autonomous Republic
2. Mammad Mammadov, Chairman of the Council of Elders of
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic
3. Asim Aliyev, Chairman of the Union of Writers of the
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic
4. Ulviyya Hamzayeva, Chairman of the Union of Artists of
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic
5. Yashar Khalilov, Chairman of the Organization of Composers of
the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic
6. Yashar Valiyev, Chairman of the Red Crescent Society of the
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic
7. Gazanfar Abdullayev, Chairman of the Council of Trade Unions
of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic
8. Firudin Suleymanov, Chairman of the Council of Veterans of
War, Labor, Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Bodies of Nakhchivan
Autonomous Republic
9. Eyvaz Askerov, Chairman of the Public Union "Chernobyl
Disabled People of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic"
10. Vugar Abbasov, Chairman of the Confederation of
Entrepreneurs of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic
11. Heydar Ahmadov, Chairman of the Union of Architects of
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic
12. Valeh Mahmudov, Chairman of the "Center for Intellectual
Development of Youth" Public Union
13. Sanan Badalov, Chairman of "Young Patriots" Public Union
14. Mrs. Ibrahimova, Chairperson of "Estafet" Youth Public
Union
15. Gulkhanim Orujova, Chairman of "Nakhchivan Young Teachers
Association" Public Union