France, Strasbourg, June 23 / Trend, A. Maharramli /
What are the Armenian Armed Forces doing in the Azerbaijani territories? Member of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE Ganira Pashayeva asked this question in response to the Armenian MPs' statement during the discussions around the Swedish MP Bjorn von Sydow's report "The situation in Kosovo and the role of the Council of Europe."
"Actually, I intended to speak on the Kosovo issue. Unfortunately, due to the untrue information that the Armenian delegation's representatives gave to the Assembly and accusations against my country, I must first clarify some issues. All international organizations, including the Council of Europe stated that the settlement of the conflict in Kosovo is not and can not be a precedent for other conflicts in Europe. Every conflict has different roots, various reasons and different ways of settlement. Unfortunately, some members, especially the Armenians, misuses this problem," Pashayeva said.
She stressed that the two conflicts are very different. "First I must say that the conflicts in Kosovo and Nagorno-Karabakh have different historical roots, different reasons and they are different conflicts for all other factors. Armenia, except Nagorno-Karabakh, occupied the seven surrounding areas and this fact is reflected in resolutions and other documents of the UN, PACE and other international organizations. In addition, all international organizations and world countries, except Armenia, recognized Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. The resolution 1416, adopted by PACE clearly indicates that Armenia occupied the Azerbaijani territories, it must liberate these territories and create conditions for a million refugees and IDPs to return to their native land. However, it not only failed to fulfil the resolutions of international organizations, including PACE, but also takes steps to strain the situation," she said.
The Azerbaijani MP also touched upon illegal parliamentary elections in Nagorno-Karabakh.
"Not paying attention to the advices of international organizations, including the Council of Europe, Armenia organized "elections" in Azerbaijan's occupied territories in May. Unfortunately, despite the fact that the CE and other international organizations stated about the non-recognition of illegal elections, Armenia continues similar actions now and will continue in the future. Thus, it damages the very sensitive process of negotiations to resolve the conflict peacefully and strains the situation, which is so intense. At the same time, Armenia violates the obligations of the Council of Europe," Pashayeva stressed.
Ganira Pashayeva brought to the attention of the European MPs that Armenia constantly fires at the occupied territories, the Azerbaijani villages.
According to her, the Armenian Armed Forces from positions in Azerbaijan's occupied territories fires at the Azerbaijani territories and villages by violating ceasefire. "Since May, the Armenian forces from territories of Azerbaijan's occupied villages commit purposeful burning of nearby villages. It has the character of the threat of civilian population and causes them economic harm. The Armenian MP, who spoke before me said that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces strained the situation in the region by violating the ceasefire. This is untrue.
In fact, Armenia and the Armenian armed forces strain the situation. Two days ago, and yesterday the Armenian armed forces by violating ceasefire attacked on the directions of Tartar and Fuzuli regions. The Azerbaijani armed forces prevented the attack. Unfortunately, the Armenian side, as always, again provides the untrue information in order to put Azerbaijan in an unfavourable situation. I want them to answer one question: what were the Armenian armed forces doing in the territory, where the incident took place? They can not answer the question, otherwise truth will come to light . Because this territory, this area is recognized as Azerbaijan's territory by entire world community," Pashayeva said.
The MP urged not to accept the observers' position towards Armenia. "Given all this, the Council of Europe can not remain an observer, and should take actions against Armenia, who will further strain the situation, not fulfilling the resolutions of the CE and international organizations, as well as obligations of the Council of Europe. Armenia doesn't take any steps to resolve the problem, on the contrary ir exacerbating it aggravates the situation, " Pashayeva said.
Before the Azerbaijani MP's speech, the Armenian delegation's representatives Hermina Naghdalyan and Zaruhi Postanyan said that the Council of Europe adheres to double standard towards Nagorno-Karabakh compared to the Kosovo problem. They stressed that the organization must recognize the "elections" in Nagorno-Karabakh, as it recognized the elections in Kosovo.