Baku, April 16, AZERTAC

“A resolution adopted by the European Parliament on the so-called Armenian genocide is the most shameful, groundless, unfair and politicized decision in the history of the European Parliament which pursues specific goals and distorts the real history of the World War I. There is no doubt that this resolution stems from anti-Muslim, anti-Turkic mood,” the Azerbaijan President`s Aide for Public and Political Affairs Ali Hasanov has told journalists.

Mr. Hasanov said that the adoption of this resolution testifies to double standards and Islamophobic mood in Europe and in most of the international organizations, including and especially the European Parliament, which were founded by the West: "For many years we have conveyed the truth about the Khojaly Genocide, real facts of atrocities committed by the Armenians against Turks and Azerbaijanis in the last 200 years to the entire world, as well as European countries and bodies. But in return, neither European countries, nor the European Parliament, the Council of Europe have made any objective decision on the issue. Historical facts, documents confirm that there was no massacre against Armenians in the territory of Turkey in 1915. At the time when Turkey was involved in a war, the Armenians created numerous armed groups to stage an uprising in the rear and organized attacks on the Turkish army, carrying out inhuman actions against civilians and committed mass murders in various cities and towns.”

“Of course, the Turkish army took necessary measures to protect civilians from the Armenian atrocities. No genocide happened during this or any other resettlement of Armenians too. Simply, the actions carried out in accordance with the conditions of war were remarkable for their severity. Therefore, the assessment of the events that took place at the beginning of the last century by a group of politicians, parliamentarians by distorting the historical reality, without reference to any fact and without examination of archival materials of that time, is absolutely wrong. The so-called Armenian genocide claims are based on subjective judgment which is the manifestation of strengthening Islamophobic, anti-Muslim and anti-Turkic leanings. This is also a result of the double standards dominating in the modern world, especially in the West. Of course, the attempts of certain Western circles to distort the history and build false opinion about the Muslim world must be condemned. One must answer to these claims with concrete facts. Mankind is aware of the fact that there was no such incident and such decisions and resolutions are emerging only because of some circles` attempts to satisfy their own interests. These circles are taking revenge from Turkey and Azerbaijan for not joining an alliance against Russia. We have faced such lies and “black PR” campaigns during the Eurovision song contest, and Ramil Safarov’s extradition to Azerbaijan, and now we observe the same thing on the eve of the 1st European Games.”

Ali Hasanov also noted that this is not the first subjective, anti-Islamic, anti-Turkic and anti-Azerbaijani resolution adopted by the European Parliament. “Apparently we will be witnessing such “decisions” in the future as well. Neither Azerbaijan, nor Turkey have an anti-Western attitude. Both countries are ready for equal, fair cooperation and partnership in every field. Unfortunately, certain anti-Muslim and anti-Turkic mood dominates in the U.S. and Europe. They insistently want to see the Muslim world not beside them, but against them. The history will show what this policy will give the West. But we, as a state, can’t allow them to impose their unfair decisions on the world and forcedly inculcate these decisions in people as the truth”. Ali Hasanov noted that “after this resolution Azerbaijan will have to reconsider its relations with the European Parliament”. “Azerbaijan has stopped its activities in Euronest group of the European Parliament. If the things continue so, we will have to reconsider all our relations with the European Parliament.”