The Azerbaijan State News Agency

POLITICS

UN Secretary General informed about Armenia’s policy of genocide against Azerbaijanis and glorification of Nazis

UN Secretary General informed about Armenia’s policy of genocide against Azerbaijanis and glorification of Nazis

Washington, December 9, AZERTAC.

On the occasion of the 71st year of adoption of Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations Yashar Aliyev sent a letter to Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres. In a letter addressed to the head of the UN, the Azerbaijani diplomat wrote:

“As we are approaching the seventy-first anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and some events are scheduled to take place on 9 December 2019 at United Nations Headquarters in New York on the occasion of the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of This Crime, I would like to bring to your attention the following.

The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide is one of the first international instruments, to which the Republic of Azerbaijan acceded after the restoration of its independence and admission to the United Nations. We believe that the universal ratification of the Convention would represent an important consolidated commitment of the international community to the eradication of the crime of genocide.

We underline the importance of the mandate of the United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect in advancing national and international efforts to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

Azerbaijan knows about the odious scourge of genocide, and not from hearsay. The 31st of March is commemorated as the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis, in memory of those thousands of civilians killed as a result of Armenian offensives in 1918.

Serious violations of international humanitarian law amounting to war crimes, crimes against humanity and acts of genocide were committed in the course of the war unleashed by Armenia against Azerbaijan at the end of the 1980s. The war, which continues to date, claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people and ruined cities, towns and villages; thousands of people went missing; and all captured areas of Azerbaijan were ethnically cleansed of their more than 1 million Azerbaijani population.

In February 1992, the largest massacre during the conflict was committed against the civilians of the town of Khojaly, in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. As a result of the attack and capture of the town by the Armenian forces, hundreds of Azerbaijanis, including women, children and the elderly, were killed, wounded or taken hostage, while the town was razed to the ground. The level of brutality in Khojaly is shocking: six families were totally exterminated; 25 children lost both parents and 130 children lost one parent; 56 men were either burned alive, scalped, tortured, beheaded or blinded; and pregnant women were bayoneted.

It is important that the international community think about what happened in Khojaly and in other cities, towns and villages of Azerbaijan. Yerevan’s stubborn denial of its responsibility for heinous crimes committed during the aggression against Azerbaijan is a defiance of international law and human rights, as well as a direct obstacle to lasting peace and genuine reconciliation.

Indeed, while international norms and standards, along with institutional activities, have significantly developed over the years, civilians continue to pay the highest price in the wake of armed conflict. Among other critical measures required to effectively confront impunity, it is important to insist also that peace and preventive diplomacy efforts contribute to ensuring accountability and under no circumstances tolerate or encourage the sustenance of situations achieved by the unlawful use of force and other egregious violations of international law, such as genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansings.

Further, it should be particularly noted that the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was adopted in response to widespread atrocities and civilian suffering in the Second World War. However, we continue to witness instances of glorification of Nazis and their collaborators in some countries, including those attempting to introduce themselves as fervent promoters of human rights and the genocide prevention agenda. Such shameless hypocrisy is unacceptable and represents a profound disrespect for the memory of millions of people throughout the world who gave up their lives for freedom from tyranny and colonization during the Second World War.

For the sake of truth, peace and well-being, it is critical that the intentions of those speculating on the sensitive domain of criminal justice to falsify history, sow dissension and conceal their own responsibility for the most serious crimes never succeed.

I should be grateful if you would have the present letter circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda items 31, 32, 37, 68, 75, 83 and 130, and of the Security Council.”

The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 9, 1948 as General Assembly Resolution 260. The Convention entered into force on 12 January 1951. All participating countries are advised to prevent and punish actions of genocide in war and in peacetime. As of May 2019, 150 states have ratified or acceded to the treaty.

Yusif Babanli

Special correspondent

Share news on social media

Follow us on social network

UEFA Champions League quarterfinal 2nd leg to kick off with 2 matches

Azerbaijani gymnasts to flight for glory at Czech Aerobic Open 2024

Türkiye’s 1st indigenous Earth observation satellite completes 1st year in space

Azerbaijan, Türkiye exchange mutual experience in military information field

Military ammunition found in Azerbaijan’s Jabrayil district

President Ilham Aliyev: We are doing everything in a planned manner in order to obtain maximum efficiency from every inch of land

President: We now have full possession of our water resources

President Ilham Aliyev: Caspian Sea water desalination project is underway

President of Azerbaijan: We are implementing large-scale work in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur that is unmatched on a global scale

President: Many infrastructure projects have been solved in Azerbaijan

Major infrastructure projects facing the government in the coming years disclosed

President: Efficient utilization of water resources is our primary task

Azerbaijani President: The Shirvan canal will be our largest project in terms of water volume and coverage of farmland

President: After the Shirvan irrigation canal has been put into operation, Lake Hajigabul will also be filled

President Ilham Aliyev: Among infrastructure projects implemented in Azerbaijan in recent years, Shirvan irrigation canal holds special importance

Australia: 15-year-old arrested over Sydney church stabbing

South Caucasus is a region of growing importance, says Kazakh expert

Baku hosting Azerbaijan Insurtech Summit for first time

Combined Arms Army conducts technical inspection of auto vehicles

UN’s Indigenous Issues Permanent Forum opens session focused on youth voices

Baku Book Center hosts presentation of methodological manual “Azerbaijani language proficiency level requirements”

Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication transferred all information systems to "Government Cloud"

Azerbaijan, Serbia explore current state and prospects of strategic partnership

China's GDP expands 5.3 pct year on year in Q1

Oil prices go up in global markets

President Ilham Aliyev laid foundation stone for Shirvan irrigation canal in Hajigabul district VIDEO

Azerbaijani oil price declines in global markets

Azerbaijani FM meets with President of Uzbekistan

Geneva hosts International Day of Nowruz

Canton Fair opens in China with surge in overseas purchasers

Turkish foreign minister, UN chief discuss recent regional developments

ANAMA highlights Azerbaijan's mine action efforts in liberated territories

Nadal confirms comeback at Barcelona Open, to face Cobolli

Seventeen in hospital after football fans’ minibus crashes in West Yorkshire

® Baku Steel Company CJSC represents Azerbaijan in Dusseldorf

® Kapital Bank introduces exciting “50 gün 50 hədiyyə” (“50 days 50 gifts”) lottery

Bulgaria to host European, Balkan Cups in whitewater rafting in April

Academician Zarifa Aliyeva commemorated in Ukraine

Azerbaijan, Oman explore prospects for bilateral relations

BHOS hosts meeting with students and graduates selected to participate in SOCAR's ‘Young Talents’ program

ANAMA: 725 unexploded ordnances neutralized over past week

US forces intercepted more than 80 attack drones and at least 6 ballistic missiles from Iran and Yemen, says Central Command

UN Youth Climate Champion outlines measures to ensure young people's involvement in global processes

Azerbaijani taekwondo fighters claim two medals in Belgrade

Azerbaijani female gymnasts claim seven golds in Bishkek tournament

Azerbaijan’s population hits 10,187 million

COP29 Presidency holds first press conference

12 killed in weather-related accidents in Oman

Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum Pipeline accounted for over 50.1 percent of Azerbaijan’s gas transportation

Jeyhun Bayramov: Armenia must reciprocate Azerbaijan's efforts towards peace and construction in the region

BTC pipeline transports over 9 million tons of oil in January-March 2024

Azerbaijan’s Energy Minister to attend Green Hydrogen Summit and 14th Session of Irena Assembly

‘Main topics of COP29 negotiations are under comprehensive discussion with all parties’

Over 15,600 residential buildings in Russia affected by floods

Apple loses top phonemaker spot to Samsung as iPhone shipments drop, IDC says

® Azercell continues to support “Youth Can!" project

COP29 website set to launch this week

Azerbaijan unveils COP29 logo

President Ilham Aliyev extends congratulations to President-elect of Slovakia Peter Pellegrini

To His Excellency Mr. Peter Pellegrini, President-elect of the Slovak Republic

COP29 President-Designate: The green transition is among Azerbaijan's national priorities VIDEO

Baku Stadium chosen as the venue for COP29 VIDEO

30 killed in rain-related incidents in Pakistan VIDEO

Self-driving cars safety project launched

COP29 CEO: Whole world will focus its attention on Baku in November this year VIDEO

3 killed in Mexico helicopter crash

Magnitude 3.2 quake jolts Azerbaijan’s Imishli district

Boxer Omar Aslanli seals Azerbaijan`s another gold at European Championships

Azerbaijani FM holds meeting with Uzbek counterpart

Azerbaijani judo team triumphs at Berlin Cadet European Cup 2024

Global oil prices drop

Aston Villa shock Arsenal, allow Manchester City stay on top of English Premier League

Udinese vs. Roma match in Italy abandoned after player collapses

Bayer Leverkusen win first-ever German Bundesliga title

Azerbaijani boxer claims European crown

Azerbaijan Defense Minister meets with the King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan embarks on working visit to Uzbekistan

Azerbaijan women’s 3x3 national basketball team qualifies for Paris 2024 Summer Olympics

Azerbaijani Minister of Defense pays official visit to Jordan

Azerbaijan Army holds seminars on gender equality

Meloni: "The birth rate is a priority of the government, the rented uterus becomes a universal crime"

Biden reaffirms Israel support after Iran attack

UK climate change minister Graham Stuart resigns

Türkiye's famous film studio where historical series are filmed, opens its doors

Azerbaijani FM meets with candidate for UNESCO director general post

Georgian Parliament Speaker, Kazakh President discuss cooperation

Spanish midfielder Luis Alberto: ‘I have asked to leave Lazio’

Death toll from Italian hydroelectric plant explosion rises to 7 as the last bodies are recovered

Swiss university develops hopping robot to explore asteroids

Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 date announced

At least 13 people are killed and an estimated 15,000 displaced by flooding in Kenya

China's foreign trade up 5 pct in Q1, hits new records

UN hosts joint briefing on 6th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue

Azerbaijani servicemen's combat and moral-psychological training is at high level, Defense Ministry

98 stranded midair rescued after cable car accident in southern Türkiye

Azerbaijani oil price exceeds 94 dollars

EU is Azerbaijan’s biggest supporter when it comes to de-mining, says EU committee chair

Oil prices go up in global markets

Azerbaijani gymnast clinches gold in Kyrgyzstan

EU committee chairperson: Time has come for concrete steps to ensure peace and stability in the region