BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 20. The Western Azerbaijan Community has issued a statement on the hearings held at the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the US Congress, Trend reports.
The statement reads:
“The Western Azerbaijan Community expresses deep concern regarding the hearings titled 'Human Rights in Azerbaijan after the Fall of Nagorno-Karabakh,' held on September 19 by the Tom Lantos U.S. Congress Human Rights Commission. The accusations made against Azerbaijan during these hearings reflect yet another manifestation of disrespect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country and bias against Azerbaijanis.
We condemn the U.S. Congress's indifference toward the gross violations of Azerbaijani rights by Armenia, particularly the displacement of around 800 thousand Azerbaijanis due to nearly 30 years of occupation and the prevention of their return. Let us recall that the large-scale destruction caused by Armenia during the occupation, the mining of territories, and the destruction of infrastructure prevented the speedy return of internally displaced persons to their native lands. Another blatant example of discrimination against Azerbaijanis is the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis from Armenia, and the US Congress turned a blind eye to the violation of their rights to return.
It is regrettable that during the hearings the questions were presented in a religious context. Such an approach is aimed at undermining peace and stability in the region by igniting inter-religious and inter-ethnic conflicts.
It is unacceptable for the US Congress to show disrespect for the internationally recognized territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan and distort the sovereign rights of our country. The American side issues visas to representatives of the said former illegal regime and creates conditions for their participation in the event, which is an indicator of this country's support for separatism. In connection with the excuses that the legislative body in which such hearings are held is allegedly independent and the hearings do not reflect government policy, we declare that no one has a shadow of a doubt that the said steps of the Congress were taken precisely at the request of the US administration.
The Western Azerbaijan Community demands that the US Congress abandon its biased and provocative stance, as it violates the human rights of Azerbaijanis and disrupts the peace process, showing disrespect for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. We also call on the US Congress to support the right of Azerbaijanis to return to Armenia and not to hinder the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the region."