French colisee.org website issues article on Khojaly tragedy
Paris, February 23 (AZERTAC). Colisee.org website of France has issued an article on the Khojaly tragedy titled “21st anniversary of the Khojaly tragedy: one of the most serious crimes against humanity”.
The article states that existence of conflicts is a thread for stability in the South Caucasus.
“The Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict became more serious after USSR`s decline. Armenia, backed by the Soviet army occupied 20% of Azerbaijan's territory, including historical and cultural cradle of Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh. This situation has caused a flood of refugees, more than a million people have become refugees or displaced within their own country and are still waiting to return to their homes. Negotiations on the peaceful settlement of the conflict that was conducted since 1992 in the framework of the Minsk Group of the OSCE co-chaired by the United States, France and Russia had no real results.
International organizations have unanimously condemned the attack. The Security Council of the United Nations, affirming the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, in 1993 condemned the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions of Azerbaijan and demanded the withdrawal of Armenian occupying forces. In this regard, the Security Council adopted in 1993, four resolutions (# 822, 853, 874, 884). However, none of these resolutions is implemented by Armenia.
The Nagorno-Karabakh broke out in 1988, resulting in bloody abuses and atrocities. The city of Khojaly in Nagorno-Karabakh region, also known as the "Srebrenica Caucasus" was removed from the map by Armenian forces at the night of February 25 to 26, 1992. The Armenian troops were supported units by the 366th motorized regiment of former Soviet army. In total, 613 civilians were killed including 106 women, 83 children and 70 elderly. Some 1275 civilians were taken prisoners. Before Srebrenica, the world has witnessed the massacre of Khojaly. At the end of the XX century, such atrocity is unacceptable. The Council of Europe promotes the sanctity and immunity of the human rights. But it demands an equal judgment against all human tragedies.
The unsettlement of the conflict hinders the economic development of the South Caucasus and the integration of these countries into the European family.
The aggression of the territory of Azerbaijan and the massacre of Khojaly are criminal acts under the statute of the International Criminal Court. But the indifference of the international community creates discrimination against peoples, which is contrary to the spirit of humanity. Victims of Khojaly tragedy have still not received justice despite 21 years.
Azerbaijan shows its commitment to a peaceful solution of the conflict within the framework of territorial integrity and the principles of international law. It also calls for the international community to take a firm stand against this unacceptable situation,” the article informs.
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