AZERI MP URGES COUNCIL OF EUROPE TO APPLY SANCTIONS AGAINST ARMENIA
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 28 2007
The report on "State of refugees and IDPs in South-Eastern Europe"
was debated at the session of the Council of Europe Parliamentary
Assembly (PACE), APA’s Europe bureau reports.
Rapporteur, Greek parliamentarian Nikolaus Dendias said though 12 years
have passed since the wars in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia and
8 years since Kosovo conflict there still are 1.5 million refugees in
the Balkans. The rapporteur called on the governments in the region to
give financial aid and create necessary atmosphere to ensure returning
of the IDPs.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterresas a special guest
made speech on the theme.
Member of Azerbaijani delegation to PACE Rafael Huseynov addressing
the debate said that Azerbaijan is the country which is suffering
from problems of refugees and IDPs most of all.
"The problem already requires taking concrete steps. Armenia is
here in the Council of Europe, before you. Your request is in vain,
Armenia will neither refrain from occupying, nor terrorism in state
level and ensure bringing back IDPs to their original places.
Sanctions, punishments should be imposed. Armenia, which acts contrary
to the principles of Council of Europe (CE), demonstratively violates
regulations, is indifferent to international rules, can be reformed
only by leaving it in economic and political isolation. This is the
key of solution of the similar problems. Refugee problem can be solved
in this way which can serve as example to the countries causing the
analogous situation in other regions," he said.
Azerbaijani delegation member Ganira Pashayeva addressing the session
stated that Azerbaijanis comprised more than 30% of Armenian population
70 years ago and they were the biggest national minority.
"The discrimination policy led by Armenian leadership and carried out
on the initiative of several USSR heads, particularly Stalin led to
a tragedy. Half million of Azerbaijanis were driven away from Armenia
in 1948, 200 thousand Azerbaijanis in 1988, and no single Azerbaijani
are living in Armenia at present," she underlined.
Another member of Azerbaijani delegation Gultakin Hajiyeva stated
that the great kindness shown to refugees and IDPs is to create
condition for them for bringing back to their native places in security
condition, voluntarily.