INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON KHOJALY MASSACRE HELD AT UN GENEVA OFFICE
Baku, 11 December (AZERTAC). An international conference on mass violation of human rights during armed conflicts was held Thursday, with the support of the Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation (ICYFDC) at the UN Geneva Office on the occasion of the Human Rights Day.
The conference was attended by activists of the “Justice for Khojaly” international campaign initiated by ICYFDC general coordinator for inter-cultural dialogue Leyla Aliyeva.
The conference started an hour later since Armenian permanent mission to the UN Geneva Office made an attempt to cancel the event using Armenian lobby. Media reports from Armenia suggested Armenian diplomats claimed that the format of the conference is allegedly not in compliance with the UN rules. Taking into consideration explanations given by conference organizers and participation of esteemed guests and representatives, the conference kicked off at the UN Palace of Nations.
The conference organized by Cojep International brought together some diplomats, heads of international rights groups, and media. The participants saw a video message of UN Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay
In his address ICYFDC Secretary General Elshad Iskandarov told of political recognition of Khojaly massacre along with tragedies in Rwanda and Srebrenica in the OIC documents and the need for cooperation between OIC and European structures on the basis of cross-cultural dialogue.
Justice for Khojaly campaign coordinator in Lithuania Eva Lukosevite made a multimedia presentation on the Karabakh war.
During the conference, Armenian diplomats tried to impede the conference.
In response to Armenian allegations, ICYFDC Secretary General Elshad Iskandarov pointed out that in an interview to British journalist Thomas de Vaal incumbent Armenian president and then, commander of Armenian armed forces in Nagorno-Karabakh confessed, “the main aim of Armenian militants in Khojaly was to break Azerbaijanis` stereotype that the Armenians are people who could not raise their hand against the civilian population”.
Leader of the Azerbaijan mission to the UN Geneva Office Elchin Amirbeyov noted Armenian diplomats many times tried to politicize human rights issue and impede such kind of events.
“This campaign as a result of the active foreign policy of Azerbaijan has made official Yerevan concerned during recent years,” he said.
A special report adopted by the conference will be sent as a recommendation to the UN Offices in New York and Geneva and other international and rights organizations.
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