Malaysian newspaper highlights Armenia's "humanitarian aid" manipulation
Baku, August 4, AZERTAC
The leading Malaysian newspaper "New Straits Times" has published an article by diplomat of the Azerbaijani embassy in Malaysia, Elsever Salmanov. The article headlined "Armenia's acceptance of reality post-occupation spells a better future with Azerbaijan" reads: “AS it is known, Armenia kept the Azerbaijani lands under occupation for nearly 30 years and has made illegal activities in this region a normal habit.
Despite the four binding resolutions of the UN Security Council demanding an immediate end of the occupation, barbaric activities such as the establishment of illegal settlements on a part of Azerbaijani territory, encouraging migration of people from various parts of the world to the territory, the looting of natural resources of the occupied region and the destruction of historical monuments were perceived by Armenia as its natural right.
In 2020, Azerbaijan cleared this stain of international law through military means. The occupation era has ended. As the victorious party, Azerbaijan directed the peace proposal based on certain basic principles to Armenia along the lines of humanity and international law.
However, in the last three years, it has been observed that Armenia's activities towards establishing peace are far from sincere.
First, Armenia always prioritises weapons build-up. Second, despite verbal declarations to recognise the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, it continues to keep illegal military units in Azerbaijani areas where the temporary Russian peacekeeping force is located.
Third, it still believes that it has the support of other countries and adopts delaying tactics in the negotiation process and lastly, it does not fulfil its commitment to the opening of the Zangezur Corridor.
Taking into account such insincerity by Armenia with a few other countries, Azerbaijani diplomacy this year, therefore, focuses on basic international law lessons for them to learn from.
In fact, it is regrettable that the Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry had to explain that the establishment of a checkpoint on the border of Azerbaijan had been recognised by the United Nations and was carried out within the framework of the sovereign right of states.
After the Azerbaijani armed forces ended the Karabakh occupation in 2020, Azerbaijan enabled the temporary deployment of Russian peacekeepers to the region to ensure the safe integration into society of the Armenian minority living in Azerbaijan and provided humanitarian gestures such as a connecting road with Armenia.
However, illegal Armenian armed units did not leave Azerbaijan for about three years. In addition, Azerbaijan has also warned many times about the transportation of weapons from Armenia to these illegal militias.
On April 23, 2023, a border control point was created by Azerbaijan for the security of the country and it was declared that the possibility of free passage continues within the framework of the laws of Azerbaijan. The International Court of Justice has confirmed Azerbaijan's sovereignty over the Lachin province with two decisions announced in February and July 2023.
On June 15, 2023, however, Armenian soldiers attacked the border control centre, and an Azerbaijani soldier was seriously injured. In response, the Azerbaijani side stopped the passage through the border control point except for medical emergencies and announced that the Agdam-Khankendi road could be used instead.
It should be noted that the Azerbaijani side still tolerates requests sent from Armenia for the Armenian minority in the Karabakh region. This is a genuine humanitarian gesture. Still, each state has the right to take all other measures, especially Customs taxation, for products brought from abroad.
However, Armenia is still trying to portray Azerbaijan to the world as a "bad state that hinders humanitarian needs". For example, the Armenian administration has been keeping a convoy of 19 trucks deployed at the Lachin border checkpoint of Azerbaijan since July 26, 2023, to send needed supplies to the Armenian minority in Azerbaijan, without the prior permission from Azerbaijan administration.
At the same time, Armenia tries to cover up the illegal armed units it continues to maintain in Azerbaijan's Karabakh region.
The Armenian administration also hopes to reduce the pressure of the opposition in domestic politics. Naturally, the Azerbaijani side does not allow the Lachin road to be used for such purposes.
If the Armenian minority in Azerbaijan really requires "humanitarian aid", the Aghdam-Khankendi route proposed by Azerbaijan can be easily used. The Azerbaijan government has taken various initiatives for the integration of the Armenian minority in Karabakh and sincerely continues this approach.
However, there are certain quarters who are using them as a geopolitical tool by preventing integration which will harm the minority people.
International law demands that Armenia and its supporters forget about the occupation period. The sooner they accept this reality, the better.”
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