(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Rena Murshud read more The Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society (AzQAC/ARCS) has been a part
of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement for more
than 100 years since 1920, guided by the 7 fundamental principles
of the International Movement, especially the principles of
"neutrality", "impartiality", and "unity," in times of peace and in
the conditions of military conflicts, and at the same time during
emergency situations, regardless of religibelief, nationality,
race, political views, provides necessary humanitarian aid to war
victims, internally displaced persons and refugees, mine victims
and other needy people without distinction between people.
During the First and the Second Garabagh Wars, and during the
COVID-19 pandemic, ARCS provided appropriate humanitarian aid to
the victims within the framework of close cooperation with the
International Committee of the Red Cross and the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Besides, over
the last 30-year activities, both international organizations have
implemented quite a variety of humanitarian projects in
Azerbaijan.
However, the ICRC, which has been trying to overshadow the
activities of ARCS, has undermined its credibility with a series of
biased activities. In an interview with AZERNEWS ,
political analyst and Chief Editor of Milli.az news site Elchin
Alioglu, who shed light on this type of activity of the
organization, noted that the biased position in the activity of the
ICRC is not a new phenomenon.
"The ICRC does not act arbitrarily, on the contrary, it remains
loyal to the policy it has been pursuing for many years. The common
slogan of the ICRC is "not to interfere in politics, not to
politicize humanitarian issues, to help peaceful people in areas
with humanitarian disasters, famine, disease epidemics, in areas
where military operations have taken place, and at the same time,
prisoners of war and to be interested in the fate of the hostages,
and the most importantly to assist in the release of those
persons."
According to the political analyst, if we look at the activities
of the ICRC in different countries of the world during the last 15
years, we will see that its activities have been observed with very
bad and very defective actions, from Latin America to Africa, South
East Asia and other countries.
Also, the expert gave examples in this regard.
"For example, during the humanitarian disaster and genocide in
Miami, the ICRC issued 26 statements regarding the genocide of
Rohingya Muslims, but did not save 26 people. In Africa, Somalia
and Somaliland, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Nigeria and Niger, Algeria
and Mali, as well as in military conflict zones, most recently in
Venezuela, where tens of thousands of people are at risk of
starvation after two coup attempts, the ICRC has taken no action
against it."
Later, the analyst spoke about the Committee's attitude towards
Azerbaijan.
"As for Azerbaijan, since 1991, the ICRC has not investigated
any issue related to the fate of approximately 4,648 (numbers are
not exact) prisoners and hostages. After those persons were
captured and hostage by the Armenians, there is no any information
about their whereabouts and whether they are alive or not. The ICRC
is sparing mediation efforts to organize the return of 2
Azerbaijani soldiers recently captured by Armenians. The ICRC's
flawed activities related to financial frauds, financial scandals,
varigender inequality, national and ethnic, religious
tolerance, racism, and other issues are known to the world. At the
same time, the inconsistency between the ARCS and the ICRC is
obvious. It is obvithat people are discriminated against in
ethno-confessional and especially ethnic terms," the expert
noted.
E. Alioglu also touched on some mysteripoints while talking
about the international humanitarian aid of the Committee.
"Why has the ICRC not made a statement so far that it cannot
include Azerbaijan's humanitarian aid in the areas where the
Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily stationed? Why can't
they conduct sociological, ecological, humanitarian and general
monitoring in Aghdara, Khankendi, and Khojaly?" the expert
emphasized.
Elchin Alioglu pointed out that the statement of the Armenians
"We are under blockade" is a stark lie, and in fact, they put
themselves in a situation of blockade.
"Is it really true that during these months there was not a
single patient who needed resuscitation? Is everyone there
healthy?" the expert added by asking a question.
In addition to this opinion, Elchin Alioglu noted that the ICRC
did not compile any official document about the "starvation" spread
by the separatists.
"According to the Armenians, a so-called humanitarian disaster
and famine is taking place in Garabagh. But the question arises,
has the ICRC representation in Khankendi registered the fact of
"starvation"? If it has not, then the committee is acting biased.
Another point is why does the Committee's representative office in
Yerevan deal with these issues? The Committee is currently engaged
in purely political activities in the territory of Azerbaijan. The
Committee has not made a single statement that all the territories
under the control of Russian peacekeepers in Garabagh are
monoethnic."
Finally, Elchin Alioglu linked the activities of the Committee
with support for Nazism in WWII.
"The Committee supported the Nazi ideas of Germany and the
Vatican and showed the same attitude when committing genocide
against the Jews. Also, the Committee remained silent against the
sailors who disappeared in Norway and the German refugees who
disappeared in Switzerland. All these mentioned facts can be found
in the book of the writer named Anne Frank", the expert said.
Noting that the committee turned a blind eye to thousands of
Ukrainian children being taken to Russia, Alioglu added that the
organization continues such fascist activities.
The organization has not even helped to evacuate a single
Ukrainian from war zones. Ukraine officially criticized the
Committee on behalf of the ombudsman. Therefore I think that
expecting any objective position from the ICRC is unreasonable.