France, Strasbourg, Jan. 28 / Trend , A.Maharramli/
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) distributed a written declaration on the 60th anniversary of the Azerbaijani deportations from Armenia.
"The repatriation rights of all peoples deported under Stalin's regime have been recognized," Azerbaijani PACE delegation member Ganira Pashayeva wrote in the declaration on Jan. 28. "But so far Armenia has not recognized the repatriation rights of the Azerbaijanis who were deported from Armenia in 1948-1953. For 60 years Armenia has violated their basic rights."
Azerbaijanis were deported from Armenia in four stages - in 1948, 1956, 1987 and 1988.
According to archive documents, over 1.5 million Azerbaijanis were evicted from their homes in areas, which are today recognized as Armenian territory.
The names of 698 of 940 Azerbaijani settlements were changed after the Armenian Soviet Republic was established. The names of the last 91 Azerbaijani settlements were changed after an order by former Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan on April 9, 1991.
Over 20 members of parliament in the UK, Germany, Turkey, Latvia, Estonia, Bulgaria and Albania signed the declaration and recognized the document.
"Yerevan continues to violate the rights of 150,000 deported Azerbaijanis by refusing to recognize and provide them with their repatriation rights. All peoples have been given these rights except Azerbaijanis. Only they are still deprived of them," the document said.
In 1988 Armenia pursued a mono-ethnic policy and deported all Azerbaijanis from the country. A total of 300,000 Azerbaijanis were forcedly deported from their homes.
The declaration said PACE, which considers protecting human rights to be a priority, as well as member nations, condemn the crimes committed against the Azerbaijanis.
The Council of Europe also urges member nations to use strict influence and pressure to force Armenia to recognize and provide the deported Azerbaijanis with their basic rights.
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