Dear ladies and gentlemen!

Today`s Congress of the Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno Karabakh region of the Azerbaijan Republic unites more than 65 thousand people. Undergone to pressure and persecutions by the Armenian separatists, we became the internally displaced persons driven in 1988-1992 from our homelands - the Nagorno Karabakh region of the Azerbaijan Republic.

The basis of aggressive plans of the Armenian nationalists, living with the crazy idea about the so-called “great Armenia”, the policy of deportation and genocide, carried out by them against Azerbaijanis, has been founded 200 years ago. After re-settlement of the Armenians in early XIХ century from the territories of states of Iran and Ottoman to Azerbaijan, there began the process of purposeful replacement and exile of our compatriots from their lands. This process especially amplified at the time of disintegration of empires, revolutions, change of the power and in other transition periods, was accompanied by open violence and murders.

The next stage of aggressive policy pursued by the Armenian nationalists and politicians of the ethnic cleanings began in the late 80s of the past century - on the threshold of collapse of Soviet Union, and continues now. As a result of aggression by the neighboring Republic of Armenia 20 percent of the Azerbaijani territories - Nagorno-Karabakh and 7 adjacent regions have been occupied and about 1 million Azerbaijanis have been ousted from their homelands and became refugees and IDPs.

Military aggression has entailed numerous human loss, heavy material and moral losses. In February 1992, the Armenian armed forces had ruthlessly destroyed one of the most ancient historical Azerbaijani settlements - the city of Khojaly, and subjected to tortures and killed more than 600 people, including women, children and the elders. The Khojaly genocide once again has openly shown hypocrisy of the Armenian nationalists, constantly trying to present them to world community as the distressful nation, their crimes, directed against humanity and civilization.

In whole, as a result of aggression there was lost over 20 thousand Azerbaijanis, wounded or became invalids more than 50 thousand people. Destroyed were 890 settlements with socio-economic infrastructure, establishments of education, public health services and culture, historical monuments and mosques. Nagorno Karabakh and 7 adjacent regions have turned to an uncontrollable zone, in a stronghold favorable for transnational criminal groups.

After Azerbaijan and Armenia as the independent states, became members of the United Nations Organization, the problem of Nagorno Karabakh went out of the regional frameworks and acquired international character. In resolutions of Security Council of the United Nations 822, 853, 874 and 884 on Nagorno Karabakh, expressed was the respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, inviolability of its borders, emphasized was inadmissibility of change of the borders by force. In the mentioned documents, it was required to put an end to the armed operations and hostilities, immediately, completely and unconditionally to withdraw the Armenian military formations from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

At the 59th, 60th and 62nd sessions of UN General Assembly the question on situation at the occupied territories of Azerbaijan was brought for discussion. On the basis of presented by the government of Azerbaijan of the facts and reports of the OSCE mission on studying of the facts the General Assembly accepted the resolutions condemning settling of the Armenians at the occupied territories, setting mass arson fires which create threat for environment, health and the life of people. The said documents once again confirmed the right of the population ousted from the occupied territories to returning to their homelands.

Other authoritative international organizations also have made the certain decisions directed on peaceful settlement of the conflict. In the resolution of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe number 1416 of 2005, it was specified that the Azerbaijani territories were occupied by Armenians and the Nagorno Karabakh region is controlled by separatist forces, noted the importance of fulfillment of the requirements reflected in resolutions of Security Council of the United Nations on the conflict, and underlined withdrawal of armed forces from the occupied territories. These requirements also were reflected in the PACE recommendation number 1690 of 2005.

In spite of the fact that there were made certain efforts for settlement of the problem, unfortunately, so far thorough advancement in the cause of its elimination has not been reached. Activity made with a view of settlement of the conflict by the OSCE Minsk Group because of non-constructive position of the Republic of Armenia has not brought due result. Absence of political will of the international organizations and the states-mediators, their irresolute position, attempts to establish balance between the aggressor and victim, often impeded the immediate and peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Dear ladies and gentlemen!

We urge you to make consecutive efforts for elimination of historical injustice which faces the Azerbaijani people, settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict peacefully and according to international legal principles. We believe that you will not remain indifferent to the appeal of the representatives of the Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Azerbaijan Republic who became IDPs, and will show more resolute position for the fair resolution of conflict.

The Appeal was accepted at the Congress of Azerbaijani

Communities of the Nagorno Karabakh region

of the Azerbaijan Republic

City of Baku, June 5, 2009