European media representatives were provided detailed information on Armenian-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict

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Mətbuat xidmətinin məlumatı 05 March, 2012

Debates on the subject of “occupied territories, forgotten territories (Armenian-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict - legal and humanitarian aspects)” in Brussels on initiative of working group on Belgium-Azerbaijan inter-parliamentary relations and by the organization of Federal Parliament House of Representatives will be held from the 5th to the 7th March. For this purpose, the delegation headed by the Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Republic, Chair of the State Committee on Deals of Refugees and IDPs – Ali Hasanov is on visit to Belgium. Deputy Prime Minister Ali Hasanov gave a detailed interview to reporters of “Reuters” Agency and “Il Sole 24 Ore” paper of Italy. The attention was mainly directed to Armenian-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict, occupation of Azerbaijan’s 20% territories by Armenians, issues on refugees and IDPs in the country. Ali Hasanov stated that despite Azerbaijan’s restoration of its state independence 20 years before, the country became leader state in the region for the short period of time, took decent place in the world for rapid development temp and growth level of overall internal production. As a result of the successful internal and external policy pursued by the President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan became leader and began to play leading role in regional and international projects. Azerbaijan’s being supported by 155 member states of the organization for its election to UN Security Council as a non-permanent member last year, only our republic’s being invited to the meeting of “Great 20s” held in Mexico among the CIS countries, is a real proof for this. The Deputy Prime Minister stated that despite all these successes the most serious problem of Azerbaijan remained unsolved. As a result of Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan, 20% of our country was occupied, one million Azerbaijan citizens were driven from their residences and became refugees and IDPs. Ten million people, as well as civilians, women, children and elderly died as a result of military operations. In the course of conflict, the most serious crime of the XX century – genocide was committed against the innocent people in Khojaly. In general, this conflict caused US $60 milliard loss to Azerbaijan economy. It was noted that Armenia is indifferent towards the resolutions made by UN Security Council and General Assembly, Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly and other international organizations concerning the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, and doesn’t free the occupied territories. Besides, Armenia, roughly breaching the provisions of Geneva Convention, pursues a policy on settling Armenian people in occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Ali Hasanov, who stressed Azerbaijan’ being a tolerant country, stated that representatives of a lot of nations peacefully lived in our country at present. And not even an Azerbaijani lived in Armenia, which became mono-ethnic state. All religious temples are being destroyed, toponymes are being changed and historical monuments are being appropriated by Armenians in Azerbaijan’s territories in Armenia and occupied Nagorno-Karabakh. Ali Hasanov, focusing on the problem of a million refugees and internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan, has emphasized the necessity of providing return to their native lands and simple rights of people who were displaced from their lands since 20 years. He has stated that, local institutions in Europe, cradle of democracy, should demonstrate fair and principled position in the restoration of the rights of refugees, there should be international pressure on aggressive Armenia, take steps based on international law and should try to achieve the restoration of peace, justice in region, providing the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Ali Hasanov, mentioning that both of the journalists are Italian-born, stated that economic relations between Italy and Azerbaijan are in a high level and Italy has occupied one of the leading places in foreign trade relations. Deputy Prime Minister, emphasizing that Italy has always a constant support on Azerbaijan in the international area and expressed his gratitude to Italian government for supporting Azerbaijan during its hard days. It was noted that, during 2000-2004, Italian government has provided food assistance in the amount of 1, 7 million USA dollars to the internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan, being one of the main donors of UN World Food program during 1994-2007,and Italy has allocated funds in the amount of 114 million USA dollars for the implemented projects in Azerbaijan, different humanitarian projects have been implemented for the internally displaced persons in the expense of 2,2 million USA dollars allocated by “ENI” company of that country . Ali Hasanov, as well as, through the implementation of “Doctors without Borders” International Humanitarian Organization of Belgium, whose headquarter is situated in Brussels, mentioning that, different humanitarian projects are being hold for internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan and expressed his gratitude to the Kingdom of Belgium for all of these things. It should be noted that, the delegation headed by Ali Hasanov includes director of the migration department of internally displaced persons of Minister of Cabinet Office, Gurban Sadigov, Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Sevinj Hasanova, director of the Social Development Fund of internally displaced persons, Deputy of Parliament, Ayaz Orujov.