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Home , Armenians in Spain, Jabrayil, Lachin corridor, Lachin District, Mehriban Aliyeva, Shusha

NOVEMBER-2020

HBULLETII GHL I GHT OF THE FORE I G N P O L I CY OF REPUBLNI C OF AZERBA I JAN

Table of contents

I. Liberation of 2

II. ’s military surrender and the end of the Second War 3

III. Liberation of Aghdam and 6

IV. Environmental terrorism carried out by Armenia in the occupied territories of 9

V. Use of mercenaries and foreign fighters by Armenia against Azerbaijan 11

VI. Azerbaijan condemns French Senate resolution on Nagorno- Karabakh 13

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I. Liberation of Shusha ancient historical lands had been under occupation for almost 30 years. In the process On November 8, the Armed Forces of of negotiations, Armenia simply wanted to Azerbaijan liberated the of Shusha – an gain time, strengthen the status quo and ancient town that is integral to the history of perpetuate it. Over the years, signals sent to the Azerbaijani nation. It has not only historical Azerbaijan from various power centers were and symbolic, but also military and strategic repeatedly urging us to put up with the significance for Azerbaijan. The liberation of situation. However, showing determination, Azerbaijan's fortress city of Shusha, considered courage and political will, we did not go for any to be an impossible task by military experts, agreement that did not meet the interests of became the most important military the Azerbaijani people. I have repeatedly achievement of the Armed Forces of stated from all international rostrums that the Azerbaijan. In a televised address to the nation restoration of our lands and territorial integrity on November 8, President Ilham said is our main task and we are fulfilling this task. that "it is with great pride that I declare that Negotiations did not yield any results. They the town of Shusha has been liberated from were just trying to fool us. They were just the occupation! Shusha is ours! Karabakh is trying to freeze the issue. We have won this ours! I congratulate all the people of victory in the battlefield, we have won this Azerbaijan on this occasion with all my heart. I victory by sacrificing martyrs," President Ilham congratulate all the people of Shusha with all Aliyev noted. my heart. Shusha, which was under occupation for 28 years and six months, was liberated! The President of Recep Tayyip Erdogan Shusha is free now! We have returned to congratulated Azerbaijan on the "liberation of Shusha! We have won this historic victory in the strategically important town of Shusha", the battlefield - 8 November 2020 will forever saying that Turkey shares the happiness of remain in the . This history Azerbaijani people, who have been liberating will live forever. This is the day of our glorious their occupied towns and Karabakh step-by- victory!". Emphasizing the significance of step. "The liberation of the Shusha town also liberating Shusha militarily and rejecting the implies that the liberation of remaining idea that the conflict did not have a military occupied territories is in sight," Erdogan solution, President reiterated that added. Foreign and national defence ministers "we have won this victory in the battlefield, of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu and Hulusi Akar not at the negotiating table. I have said many respectively paid a visit to Azerbaijan on times that, despite all the statements, there November 8, as they said, to share the joy of are military solutions to this conflict - the Azerbaijan. Underscoring the significance of Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno- the visit of the Turkish ministers, President Karabakh, and we are proving it in the Ilham Aliyev said that Ankara's political and battlefield today". moral support played an important role in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. President Ilham Aliyev also added that "The Turkish president, my dear brother Recep Azerbaijan had been under pressure from Tayyp Erdogan, has repeatedly expressed his other international actors, which urged support for Azerbaijan over the past month Azerbaijan to reconcile with the occupation. and before, giving us additional strength with "Nearly 30-year of meaningless negotiations his open statements and political and moral did not bring us any closer to the result. Our Mirza İbrahimov 8, , AZ1005, Azerbaijan, Phone: (+994 12) 596-82-39, (+994 12) 596-82-41, E-mail: [email protected]

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support. At the same time, you, dear minister November 2020 and district by 1 of defence, and our other brothers have December 2020. Based on the agreement, repeatedly declared your support for along the contact line in Nagorno-Karabakh Azerbaijan. You note that Turkey is next to and along the , a peacekeeping Azerbaijan. Of course, these statements, this contingent of the Russian Federation had to be political and moral support also played an deployed in the amount of 1,960 military important role in resolving this conflict," personnel with small arms, 90 armored President Aliyev noted during the meeting. personnel carriers, and 380 units of the As Dr. Cavid Veliyev, the head of a department automobile and special equipment. The at the Center of Analysis of International peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Relations of Azerbaijan (AIR Center) noted, the Federation had to be deployed in parallel with resumption of the war was the result of lack of the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces. The period of stay of the peacekeeping advancement in the peace negotiations process that have been going on for 26 years contingent of the Russian Federation was set within the framework of the Minsk Group. for 5 years and would be automatically Azerbaijan, along with implementing the four extended by a further five-year period if none UN Security Council resolutions that were of the Parties declares six months prior to the adopted in 1993, used its legitimate right of expiration of the period of its intention to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN terminate the application of this provision. In Charter. order to increase the effectiveness of control over the implementation of the agreements by the Parties to the conflict, a peacekeeping II. Armenia’s military surrender and center was agreed to be deployed to exercise the end of the Second Karabakh control over the ceasefire. Under the War agreement, the Lachin corridor (5km wide), which would provide a connection of Nagorno- In a televised address to the nation in the early Karabakh with Armenia and would not affect hours of November 10, President Ilham Aliyev the city of Shusha, would remain under the announced the historic signing of the ceasefire control of the Russian Federation’s agreement to end the Second Karabakh War, peacekeeping contingent. declaring it a "glorious victory" for Azerbaijan. Based on the statement signed by the By agreement of the Parties, a plan for the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham construction of a new route along the Lachin Aliyev, Prime Minister of the Republic of corridor had to be determined in the next Armenia and President of the three years, providing communication Russian Federation , a complete between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, ceasefire and a cessation of all hostilities in the with the subsequent redeployment of the zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh was introduced Russian peacekeeping contingent to protect at 00:00 hours time on 10 November this route. It was also stipulated that the 2020. Under the agreement, Aghdam district Republic of Azerbaijan would guarantee the had to be returned to the Republic of safety of citizens, vehicles and goods traveling Azerbaijan by 20 November 2020. It was also along the Lachin corridor in both directions. agreed that Armenia had to return Kalbajar Under the agreement, internally displaced district to the Republic of Azerbaijan by 15 persons and refugees would return to the

Mirza İbrahimov 8, Baku, AZ1005, Azerbaijan, Phone: (+994 12) 596-82-39, (+994 12) 596-82-41, E-mail: [email protected]

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territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent video conference and instead signed the deal districts under the control of the United off camera. Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The "This is military capitulation [of Armenia]," exchange of prisoners of war and other President Ilham Aliyev added. "We have taken detainees and bodies of the dead will also be them down a peg. We have taught them a carried out. All economic and transport links in lesson. We have booted them out from our the region will be restored. According to the lands," the president said. President Ilham agreement, Armenia guarantees the safety of Aliyev also drew attention to the fact that the transport links between the western regions of agreement did not stipulate giving any status the Republic of Azerbaijan and the to Nagorno-Karabakh. "There is not and will Autonomous Republic in order to organize an not be any status. There will be no status as unimpeded movement of citizens, vehicles and long as I am president," President Ilham Aliyev goods in both directions. It was stipulated that added. Underscoring the importance of Clause control over transport would be exercised by 5 of the statement, the president emphasized the bodies of the Border Guard Service of the that, along with Russian peacekeepers, Turkish Federal Security Service (FSB) of . Under peacekeepers would be present in a this agreement, the construction of new peacekeeping center to be set up to monitor transport communications linking the the cease-fire. Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic with the western regions of Azerbaijan will also be On November 11, President Ilham Aliyev and ensured. First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva met a group of wounded servicemen undergoing Describing the signing of the statement as a medical treatment. Addressing the servicemen historic moment, President Ilham Aliyev at the meeting, the president said that "the expressed confidence that this would serve to Patriotic War is over. Azerbaijan has won a achieve long-term peace and put an end to brilliant victory in this war, our lands have bloodshed and confrontation. "This is a been liberated from occupation, we have triumph of norms and principles of expelled the occupiers from our lands. I have international law," the president said. "I am come to congratulate you personally on this happy that I signed this historic document. I glorious victory, to express my gratitude to am happy that we are going back to our you, to express the gratitude of the Azerbaijani motherland, to our native Karabakh, to people to you for fighting heroically, for your Shusha, the crown of Karabakh. We will live exceptional contribution to evicting the enemy forever on this land and nobody - nobody will from our lands. You were wounded, you put be able to move us from this land," President your lives on the line and showed tremendous Ilham Aliyev noted. The peace deal was signed courage". "The second Karabakh War will go by President Ilham Aliyev and his Russian down in history as Azerbaijan's glorious counterpart Vladimir Putin via a video victory," President Ilham Aliyev added, conferencing. President Ilham Aliyev also crediting the people for unity and solidarity in emphasized that it was Azerbaijan's "iron fist" achieving the victory. had forced Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to sign the peace deal. Pashinyan Reiterating Azerbaijan’s commitment to had refused to join the proposed trilateral resolve the conflict peacefully, President Ilham Aliyev said that Azerbaijan under his leadership negotiated for 17 years in vain,

Mirza İbrahimov 8, Baku, AZ1005, Azerbaijan, Phone: (+994 12) 596-82-39, (+994 12) 596-82-41, E-mail: [email protected]

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adding that international mediators also withdrawal of the occupying forces from assured Baku that the problem could only be Aghdam, Lachin, and Kalbajar districts. I said resolved peacefully. However, over the past that I did not object to it. I told him to sign it year, President Ilham Aliyev said, "we saw that wherever he wanted, in a dark room, in a we were simply being deceived and the peace warehouse, far away from the cameras. And process was almost paralyzed". The new that is what happened. All the people of leadership of Armenia has effectively Azerbaijan saw the signing ceremony between disrupted the process of negotiations with myself and President Putin. Pashinyan, where unacceptable and harmful steps and did you sign this document? It does not matter statements and was making no secret of that much, because it is impossible to find him now. in recent months, the president said. President And no-one can ask Pashinyan where he Ilham Aliyev said Armenia made signed it," President Ilham Aliyev added. demonstrative steps to show both Baku and During his visit to the liberated and the whole world that the occupied territories districts on November 16, President would remain under occupation forever. Ilham Aliyev reiterated again that a status for "When we saw that they were simply Nagorno-Karabakh is out of the question and deceiving us, trying to insult us and our holy that there is a single Azerbaijani state. places, we said our word and I did not hide it. President Ilham Aliyev also reiterated that During all this time, for 17 years, I had been ethnic living in Azerbaijan are saying that if this issue was not resolved Azerbaijani citizens, just as members of any peacefully, we would resolve it militarily. other ethnic or religious groups are. "I have Whatever people may say, I still think the same said this in my numerous interviews over those and I am saying the same today. For the past 44 days [of war]: they [ethnic Armenians of 44 days, I received so many calls and so many Nagorno-Karabakh] are our citizens, and they signals to stop. I said that I had one condition will see that they will live a good life under the for the enemy - leave our lands and we will Azerbaijani leadership, and they need to rid stop. Let him say that he is leaving and we will themselves of the cowardly junta regime." stop. Let him provide a timetable, a date, and President Ilham Aliyev also noted: "Azerbaijan we will stop. But the enemy believed that they is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious could stop our successful attack," the progressive state. All Azerbaijani citizens, president added. representatives of all ethnic groups and Speaking on his insistence that the Armenian religions live a normal life in friendship and prime minister sign the November 10 joint peace. [Ethnic] Armenian people will also live statement -"an act of Armenia's peaceful this kind of a life. We have nothing against capitulation" - in a live format, in the form of a Armenian people." video conference, President Ilham Aliyev President Ilham Aliyev went on to say that the revealed that President Vladimir Putin asked Armed Forces of Azerbaijan had defeated the him not to insist on that too much. "I thought Armenian army built by that country's previous that Pashinyan was already humiliated leaderships under former President Robert enough, was already punished for his ugly Kocharyan and former President and former deeds, was already on his knees, and had Prime Minister . "We have already accepted all my conditions. The signed defeated the Kocharyan-Sargsyan army... statement also approved a timetable for the [Armenian Prime Minister Nikol] Pashinyan is a

Mirza İbrahimov 8, Baku, AZ1005, Azerbaijan, Phone: (+994 12) 596-82-39, (+994 12) 596-82-41, E-mail: [email protected]

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nobody. Kocharyan and Sargsyan, the created remarkable solidarity in Azerbaijan slaughterers of Azerbaijani people, the which has the potential to serve as a favorable slaughterers - we have defeated you, we have ground for future economic and political defeated your army. If Armenia had not signed reforms”. the instrument of surrender, they know how III. Leberation of Aghdam and this war would have ended," President Ilham Kalbajar Aliyev added. "The iron fist has smashed your head and from now on nobody will speak to us Aghdam became the first of three occupied in the language of ultimatums," the president districts due to be handed back by Armenia as also warned. part of the Russian-brokered peace deal During his visit to the liberated districts, following the six-week war. In a televised President Ilham Aliyev also underscored Baku's address to the nation on November 20, intention to sue Armenia for destruction in the President Ilham Aliyev congratulated the occupied territories. "Here is the center of the nation on the return of Aghdam and said town of Jabrayil," President Ilham Aliyev said, Azerbaijan's victory on the battlefield had standing against the background of ruins in the conditioned its political victory. "Aghdam distance. "There is not a single intact house, District is being returned to us without a single they have left not a single building. They only shot, without a single casualty. This is our built a military unit for themselves over there. major political success," President Ilham Aliyev The rest, the infrastructure, homes, buildings, said. President Ilham Aliyev reiterated again schools, public facilities have all been that the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno- demolished by the enemy. They will be held Karabakh conflict is over and Baku's next step accountable; they will answer in international now is to rebuild the regained areas, adding courts." President Ilham Aliyev said that that the government is working on a grand international experts would arrive in Azerbaijan to calculate the damage caused return plan. President Ilham Aliyev also over the past 30 years and a case would be criticized the Armenian leadership and said brought against Armenia to make it pay that Armenia's main mistake was maintaining restitution. its hatred towards Azerbaijan and laying claims to neighbours' lands on the basis of a false Dr. Vasif Huseynov, a senior adviser at the history. President Ilham Aliyev said that Center of Analysis of International Relations of Azerbaijan (AIR Center) noted that “the war Azerbaijan was interested in peace in the has significantly changed the social and region and good-neighborly relations with political environment in Azerbaijan, Armenia, adding that all peoples, including generating unanimous public support to the ethnic Armenians, living in united Azerbaijan government and its policies concerning the had equal rights. “I am confident that the conflict”. Vasif Huseynov also added that “the Armenians currently living in Nagorno- government enjoys the support even of the Karabakh will one day realize that the only way oppositional forces who used to be critical of for them is to live side by side with the the government before the war. Hence, not Azerbaijani people as neighbours," the only did the 44-day war restore Azerbaijan’s president noted. The president pointed out control over the occupied part of its that there were now attempts by Armenia to internationally-recognized territories but also falsely state that 90,000 people had been

Mirza İbrahimov 8, Baku, AZ1005, Azerbaijan, Phone: (+994 12) 596-82-39, (+994 12) 596-82-41, E-mail: [email protected]

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displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh during the their political and military leadership during latest war, when, in fact, around 60,000- the war. This, on the one hand, caused a 65,000 Armenians had lived in Nagorno- nation-wide distrust in the ruling forces, on the Karabakh and surrounding areas before the other hand sparked a fierce political crisis”. six-week war. On November 23, President Ilham Aliyev At the same time, the president warned visited the newly liberated Aghdam district. Armenia against any possible future "Today, standing here in front of this provocations. "If Armenian fascism lifts its damaged by vandals, I can say that I am a head up again and if any provocation is happy person," President Ilham Aliyev said. "I committed against us, they will get a ten-time am thankful to God that he has heard my bigger response, and no-one can stop us," prayers and given me this strength. We have President Ilham Aliyev said. The president said mobilised our strength and are now witnessing that Azerbaijan was ready to build normal these historic days," adding that "all these relations with Armenia if sound political forces years we had one goal, one wish - to return to came to power there. "But we can have no ties these lands, and we have done so. We have with butchers, with those who shed the blood destroyed the Armenian army... We have of Azerbaijani people," President Ilham Aliyev destroyed the army of Kocharyan and noted. Sargsyan... I am standing here in front of the "A military defeat, particularly such a shameful mosque you destroyed, in the town of defeat, can of course lead to turmoil in any you destroyed, I have come here with my country. Therefore, if sober-minded forces army, I have come as the victor. You will live come to power in Armenia now, after the your miserable lives to the end as losers and cowards.” crisis, we are ready to establish normal relations with such sound forces. From now President Ilham Aliyev also criticized some on, we will move even faster along the path of Western actors for raising concerns about the development. We have achieved what we security of Christian shrines in the territories wanted on the battlefield. Our soldiers and liberated by Azerbaijan. "Let no-one be officers showed their prowess. We have concerned, especially leaders of Western shown our strength in the political sphere, and countries who flare up Islamophobic the trilateral statement fully meets our sentiments. Those who turn a blind eye to the interests," President Ilham Aliyev added. insults of Islamic saints and even justify those According to Dr. Vasif Huseynov, the war who commit the insults. First, they have no brought about sharply different consequences right to raise these issues. Second, all shrines on our territory are our historical wealth," for Armenia shocking the society who had been persuaded of the invincibility of the President Ilham Aliyev said, noting that all Armenian army and its absolute superiority historical monuments in the country were over the military capabilities of Azerbaijan. Dr. protected by the state. President Ilham Aliyev Huseynov added that “the Russia-brokered also criticized envoys of the OSCE Minsk Group peace deal was a cold shower for millions of co-chair countries, which have mediated a Armenians who were constantly deceived by peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh

Mirza İbrahimov 8, Baku, AZ1005, Azerbaijan, Phone: (+994 12) 596-82-39, (+994 12) 596-82-41, E-mail: [email protected]

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conflict for the past 27 years, for their failure damaged. The occupation of the Kalbajar to report destruction of the Aghdam mosque. district was a great tragedy,” President Ilham "Why did they not raise this issue? Why did Aliyev added. some Western leaders not get concerned President Ilham Aliyev pointed out that “after about the matter? That is it is alright to insult the fall of Shusha and in May Muslim , to keep pigs and cows there, 1992, the occupation of Kalbajar also created a to destroy them. If so, let them say this clearly geographical link between Armenia and and go and mind their own business in their Nagorno-Karabakh. Everyone knows that the own countries, let them not poke their noses former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous in our business. Let no-one get into our way," Region did not have a border with the Republic the president said. of Armenia. Armenia was separated from After an initial extension of the withdrawal of Nagorno-Karabakh by the Lachin district and Armenian troops from Kalbajar District for the Lachin corridor. The occupation of Lachin, another 10 days on humanitarian grounds by Shusha and then Kalbajar districts established Azerbaijan at 's request, Armenian a geographical connection between Armenia forces withdrew from Kalbajar District on 25 and Nagorno-Karabakh over a large area, and November in line with the 10 November that was the enemy's objective. After the ceasefire deal signed between Armenia, occupation of Kalbajar, a link was established Azerbaijan and Russia. Azerbaijan also between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh in restored its sovereignty over the Soyudlu (Zod) many ways. First of all, weapons, equipment gold deposit in Kalbajar District, where and manpower were sent there from Armenia. Armenians had illegally mined gold since 2006. At the same time, it provided significant Azerbaijan did not have access to it while it was advantages for Armenia's subsequent policy of under Armenian occupation but satellite aggression.” images showed that Armenia illegally operated President Ilham Aliyev also pointed out that the Azerbaijani part of the deposit. The Zod those Western circles who want to express gold deposit was discovered in 1951, and the their concern about the churches in the larger part of it - 75% - is in Azerbaijan. liberated areas, which are Azerbaijan’s cultural In a televised address to the nation on heritage, look at destroyed mosques, the November 25, President Ilham Aliyev Aghdam, Shusha, , Jabrayil, Fuzuli and congratulated the Azerbaijani nation for the other mosques, adding that “these mosques liberation of Kalbajar district from occupation. have either been destroyed or desecrated – “Dear people of Kalbajar, may you rejoice! pigs were kept in them. Why isn't this causing Your native district has been liberated from concern? Why has no-one raised this issue for occupation. The people of Azerbaijan have 30 years except for us? I have repeatedly been looking forward to this day for years. raised this issue from international rostrums Kalbajar district was occupied on 2 April 1993. and in interactions with my foreign colleagues. Innocent people were savagely expelled from Why wasn't anyone worried about that? Why their ancestral lands. The historical sites and didn't anyone want to send an international nature of Kalbajar have been severely delegation on this issue? The Azerbaijani

Mirza İbrahimov 8, Baku, AZ1005, Azerbaijan, Phone: (+994 12) 596-82-39, (+994 12) 596-82-41, E-mail: [email protected]

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people want answers to these questions. We You have destroyed all buildings, houses and know the answer. Therefore, I repeat it - those . You have acted like a savage. Justice is who wish to interfere in our work or accuse us not on your side, nor is international law. of something should first look in the mirror.” Historical truth is not on your side, either.” In his address to the nation, President Ilham As Dr. Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the Center Aliyev also noted that “all international of Analysis of International Relations, pointed organizations, the leaders of all great powers I out “the , who were forced to was in contact with, have repeatedly said that leave their homes as a result of the Armenian there was no military solution to the conflict. occupation, took the keys of their homes with These statements are also available in the them in the hope that they would be able to media. What was I insisting on? I said there return to their native lands. Unlike the was one! I said that if necessary, we would Azerbaijanis, the Armenians, leaving Kalbajar liberate our lands by military means. I said that district, are looting and burning all our war could never be ruled out. During the talks, property, communications lines and cutting it was repeatedly proposed that the down forests. All this is a clear of manifestation Azerbaijani side renounced the path of war. I of the fact that these lands have always been never agreed to that. Then they started and remain alien to the Armenians”. accusing me, saying that Ilham Aliyev wanted to start a war. I said that I wanted to resolve the issue peacefully, but I want to resolve it. IV. Environmental terrorism carried out by Armenia in the occupied What did Armenia want? Maintain the status territories of Azerbaijan quo and perpetuate it. They believed that if they had managed that in 26-27 years, they Media reports showed Armenians in Kalbajar would continue to do so. They thought that burning houses, cutting down trees, and their patrons would always defend them, setting fire to forests before they left the stand behind them and fight for them. region. It has been reported that they did not Generally, they believe that the whole world shy away from burning down schools and hospitals and butchering the cattle. President owes them something. They want to run their Ilham Aliyev noted that “there are extensive country with this harmful and sick mentality forest areas in the Kalbajar district - 24,000 that someone must help them. What are you hectares of woods. That is our great asset. The capable of? If you always cling to someone and hated enemy cut down, looted and sold those expect some privileges, then what are you trees,” adding that “there was also good for? This mentality has led their society environmental terror against us. Armenia is a astray. Today, they are displeased with terrorist state, and there are many signs of everyone. Even today, people are asking that terror. There are signs of the destruction questions about why no one defends them. of our historical sites, the genocide against our Why should anyone protect you? You are an civilian population, deforestation, changing independent country – supposedly – so live as the course of our rivers and others. The water an independent country. This is the first. of the River, which originated from Second, you have invaded someone else's Kalbajar, was first collected in the Sarsang land. You have left a million people homeless. water reservoir and then in the Sugovushan

Mirza İbrahimov 8, Baku, AZ1005, Azerbaijan, Phone: (+994 12) 596-82-39, (+994 12) 596-82-41, E-mail: [email protected]

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water reservoir, thus serving the occupier's On many occasions, the international interests. In contrast, we did not get water at organizations sounded alarms against the all.” devastation of the environment of the "Armenia is damaging both the environment Karabakh region and beyond caused by the and the material and cultural monuments of occupation. In January 2016, the Azerbaijan," Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Europe adopted Resolution 2085 that Foreign Policy Issues and Head of Foreign condemned the fact that the occupation by Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Armenia of Nagorno-Karabakh and other, Administration, said on November 15. Further, adjacent areas of Azerbaijan had created he added that Armenians carried out illegal humanitarian and environmental problems for archaeological excavations near occupied the citizens of Azerbaijan living in the Lower Karabakh valley. They called on the Armenian Aghdam District and took findings to Yerevan. "As reported by the Armenian media, objects authorities to cease using water resources as discovered in excavations, which are part of tools of political influence. According to the the cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people, report “Environment and Security: have been taken to Armenia. All these are Transforming Risks into Cooperation – The serious violation of the requirements of Case of the Southern ” prepared by international conventions. Azerbaijan is always the Organisation for Security and Cooperation sensitive to the preservation of material and in Europe (OSCE), the UN Development cultural heritage," Hikmat Hajiyev added. Programme (UNDP), and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in October 2004, the As Vasif Huseynov has noted, “not only did occupation represented a major challenge for Armenians leaving Azerbaijani territories burn the environment and the security of the houses they had lived in, but also cut trees Azerbaijan, and posed specific problems such and set fire to forests in order not to leave as the long-term impacts of overuse of something valuable to Azerbaijanis. This pastureland, clearing of forests, stockpiling of comes extra to the destruction Armenia has waste, and irrational use of land in Nagorno- carried out in the territories it has held under Karabakh. The report of the environmental control over the last thirty years. Despite assessment mission led by the OSCE to fire- potential consequences not only for the affected territories in and around the territories of Azerbaijan, but also for the larger Nagorno-Karabakh region, conducted from 2 region, there were calls by Armenians to to 13 October 2006, concluded that the areas destroy the entire fauna and flora of the burned were extensive and the impacts on Karabakh region, before handing this to people, the economy, and the environment Azerbaijan. For example, Stepan Danielyan, were significant. The report prepared by the Chairman of the Center for Partnership for Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Democracy, even proposed to “blow up the Azerbaijan also paints a shocking picture of Sarsang reservoir, poison the rivers going to illegal economic and other activities in the Azerbaijan, burn all the forests, and in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan: “The extreme case spread the waste of the nuclear exploitation of the natural resources power plant” in the territories of Karabakh. accompanied by associated ecological Unfortunately, his call for eco-terrorism has disasters, such as tailing dumps and water been supported by many people”. pollution, has reached such a fast and

Mirza İbrahimov 8, Baku, AZ1005, Azerbaijan, Phone: (+994 12) 596-82-39, (+994 12) 596-82-41, E-mail: [email protected]

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unobstructed pace that even Armenia-based V. Use of mercenaries and foreign environmental organizations, including the fighters by Armenia against Pan-Armenian Environmental Front (PAEF), Azerbaijan raised [a] red flag.” The environmental crimes Various international mercenaries and committed by Armenia for many years are also terrorist groups sided with the Armenian evidenced by Azercosmos satellite images. Armed Forces to fight against the Armed These pieces of evidence show that the most Forces of Azerbaijan during the 44-day valuable examples of flora and fauna in the Karabakh war. The involvement of occupied territories have been obliterated. mercenaries from Syria and 's According to preliminary estimates by experts, Abkhazia and Samtskhe-Javakheti regions in the damage to the environment and natural the Karabakh war on the side of the Armenian resources is valued at about $265.3 billion. army has been extensively documented. The As Naghi Ahmadov, a leading adviser at the Armenian Martyr Nubar Ozanyan Battalion, Center of Analysis of International Relations of affiliated with PDY/YPG terrorists in Iraq and Azerbaijan (AIR Center) noted, “as a Syria, was involved in the Second Karabakh consequence of the occupation, Nagorno- War on the Armenian side. Along with this Karabakh has experienced massive destruction battalion, the Baghramyan Armenian of the ecosystem that can be characterized as Battalion, who committed atrocities in “ecocide,” which calls for assigning criminal Abkhazia in the 1990s and 2008 and ethnically responsibility. As a result of the liberation of cleansed the region from Georgians, also the territories from occupation, Azerbaijan has moved to Karabakh to fight against Azerbaijan. discovered new incidences of environmental The Center of Analysis of International terror carried out by the Armenians on these Relations (AIR Center) has published a report lands for almost 30 years. In order to ascertain detailing the involvement of foreign fighters, the true condition of the flora and fauna of the including mercenaries, on the side of Armenia liberated territories, it is necessary to conduct during the military operations conducted an appropriate investigation and objective within the internationally recognized scientific assessments on the spot and territories of Azerbaijan. The report notes that determine the damage caused to nature”, the issue of the Armenian side deploying adding that “expanding biodiversity and foreign fighters is not new. During the First rehabilitating the ecosystem in the region will Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988–94), soldiers of require the development of a comprehensive both Armenian and non-Armenian descent program. It may take decades to restore the actively fought and committed war crimes, flora and fauna, as some plants have been including the 1992 Khojaly Genocide, in the completely destroyed and others are on the Karabakh region. A prominent example is the verge of extinction. As soon as specialists California-born international terrorist Monte assess the damage caused to the environment, Melkonian, imprisoned in for acts of it will be possible to determine the legal terror in the 1980s, who was involved in mechanisms to bring those who are military operations against Azerbaijani civilians responsible for the crime of ecocide to justice in Karadagly, Khojaly, and other settlements in and demand compensation”. Azerbaijan. In 1996, Melkonian, a member of the terrorist organization ASALA and a war

Mirza İbrahimov 8, Baku, AZ1005, Azerbaijan, Phone: (+994 12) 596-82-39, (+994 12) 596-82-41, E-mail: [email protected]

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criminal, was elevated to the status of a establishing a mountain rifle battalion under national hero in Armenia. the command of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia. The report notes that, according to According to the report, during the Second information provided by the law enforcement Karabakh War, the illegal deployment of agencies of the Republic of Azerbaijan, citizens foreign fighters and mercenaries on the side of of Australia, Belarus, , Brazil, Canada, the Armenian Armed Forces continued. Cyprus, Denmark, , France, , India, According to the Cairo24 News Agency as well , Lebanon, Mexico, the Russian as intelligence sources, “Armenia’s efforts led Federation, , Sweden, and the to the transfer of hundreds of armed terrorists USA attended such training to fight in from Suleymaniyah, considered to be a Karabakh. Most of the total of 108 people who stronghold of the PKK in Iraq, to Nagorno- arrived in Armenia were citizens of these Karabakh via .” As stated by intelligence countries of Armenian descent (89 persons). sources, Armenia has deployed PKK terrorists The remaining 19 citizens from Brazil, Cyprus, to Shusha to fight against the Azerbaijani Egypt, France, Greece, India, Mexico, the Army. According to the captured Armenian Russian Federation, Sweden, Ukraine, and the serviceman, Mikayelyan Albert Yervandi, USA were not of Armenian origin. The Armenia brought 1,500 Kurdish mercenaries to organization covered the travel expenses, all Karabakh. At the same time, the citizens of necessary equipment, and clothing for the different countries, motivated by the call from recruits. It seems that the vast majority of the Armenian authorities, have travelled to volunteers arriving in Armenia to participate in Armenia to fight against Azerbaijan in the ongoing fighting obtained their Karabakh. One of their main reasons for joining preparation trainings from VoMA. According the armed forces in Karabakh was to to Reuters, hundreds of diaspora members demonstrate their Christian solidarity to from all across the world, including a student Armenians. For example, a Greek national, a called Aghasi Asatryan who lived in former non-commissioned officer in the Greek for more than seven years, had already joined army who fought in the wars in Kosovo and training organized by the VoMA Survival , explained that the reason behind School. Karapet Aghajanyan, a combat his decision to go to fight in Karabakh was to instructor in Yerevan, also told Reuters that help his brothers [Armenians] “because they around Lebanese-Armenians, who arrived in are Christians. I am a Greek.” As stated by Armenia from Beirut after the fighting broke Radio France Internationale, about 30 foreign out in late September to go to the front line, fighters arrived from Syria, Lebanon, and Latin had received training in his camp. The activities America. In Russia, it was alleged, the Union of of VoMA in the Russian-speaking segments of Armenians listed 20,000 volunteers prepared social networks indicate that the recruiting to fight for Armenia. process included the territory of the Russian Moreover, the special military-patriotic public Federation. According to organizers, upon organization VoMA, which is short for Ողջ completion of all training courses, the Մնալու Արվեստ (the art of staying alive), battalion was “put into combat operations in founded by Vova Vartanov and operating from the assigned territories” under the leadership Yerevan, appealed to the , of the Armenian Defense Ministry. However, calling on them to participate in accelerated the most interesting issue seems to be the military training courses with the aim of availability of access for Russian citizens as

Mirza İbrahimov 8, Baku, AZ1005, Azerbaijan, Phone: (+994 12) 596-82-39, (+994 12) 596-82-41, E-mail: [email protected]

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well. For Armenians from the Russian of Armenia during the last year of the 1988– Federation, charter flights from Moscow to 1994 Karabakh war, coming to fight in Yerevan were organized on October 9 and 25 Nagorno-Karabakh all the way from , by NordStar Airlines. On 28 September, the Spain. He mentions that he has seen president of the Armenian Union of Russia compatriots from Belgium and the United (Союз армян России), Ara Abramyan, States. Anush, another member of the announced that 20,000 Russian Armenians Armenian diaspora in Spain, also proudly tells were going to travel to Armenia and fight for the story of “brave Armenians living abroad” the regime in the occupied territories of who were ready to be mobilized for the war on Azerbaijan. He also mentioned that there were the territories not legally belonging to the around 1,000 who also wanted to state of Armenia, among them her father. The join. author also claims that, according to his sources, several dozen Armenians in Spain According to the Sputnik Hellas news agency, have seriously considered traveling to Armenia at least 500–800 Greek citizens said they were to volunteer, though not necessarily on the ready to join the Armenian army “to fight the front line. Turks.” In addition, according to Minas Hovhannisyan, the head of the Hayastan In conclusion, the report published by the cultural center in Greece, Armenians there Center of Analysis of International Relations called on their compatriots to join the (AIR Center) notes that “Armenia and its Armenian army voluntarily. In three days more diaspora have been involved in the process of than 100 people answered the call. According recruitment, use, financing, and training of to France 24 and Новая Газета, several men mercenaries and foreign fighters, locally and with French citizenship actively participated in abroad, for the purpose of participating in a the fighting against Azerbaijan. For example, concerted act of violence aimed at French Armenian Artur Oganisyan told a undermining the territorial integrity of correspondent that he simply arrived in Azerbaijan. This is a gross violation of Armenia without providing any documents, international law, international humanitarian received a machine gun, and joined the army. law, international human rights law, and The France24 news agency has published international refugee law”. several video reports telling the stories of a war veteran named Vardan33 and a 28-year- old French citizen, Sipan Muradyan, who VI. Azerbaijan condemns French returned to their homeland to participate in Senate resolution on Nagorno- the war by joining a group of volunteers. The Karabakh French Liberation news agency also reported The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan on Marc de Cacqueray-Valmenier, the the has described as "completely biased" and "a notorious neo-Nazi and leader of the far-right provocation" the resolution on "The need to group Zouaves (ZVP), who left to fight on recognize the Nagorno-Karabakh republic" the Armenian side and published a photo on adopted by the French Senate on November social media photo as evidence of his presence 25. In a statement on its official website, the on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. An Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan said article in ’s El Confidencial narrates the that while the resolution adopted by the story of Zareh, who had also fought on behalf Senate had no legal force, it nevertheless cast

Mirza İbrahimov 8, Baku, AZ1005, Azerbaijan, Phone: (+994 12) 596-82-39, (+994 12) 596-82-41, E-mail: [email protected]

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doubt on France's role as a mediator in the the past 30 years. He accused France of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as part of the OSCE attempting to derail the peace deal on Minsk Group. "Instead of adopting biased Nagorno-Karabakh and reignite the conflict. resolutions, engagement of the French Senate The Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan at in activities that serve peace, stability and its session on November 26 condemned the progress in the region would respond to the French Senate resolution on Nagorno- interests of France and lead to the sustainable Karabakh and MPs called for France to be development of the region," the Ministry of removed from the OSCE Minsk Group that has Foreign Affairs statement read. Hikmat been mediating a peaceful resolution to the Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of the conflict for the past 27 years. Republic of Azerbaijan on Foreign Policy Issues The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan and Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department summoned the French ambassador and of the Presidential Administration, noted that submitted to him a note of protest over the the resolution "is nothing more than a piece of French Senate's non-binding resolution on paper" for Azerbaijan. "As such, it has been "the necessity to recognize the Nagorno- adopted merely for the sake of narrow Karabakh republic". The Foreign Ministry of pollitical ambitions while flagrantly violating France reiterated later that the Paris international law norms, the UN Charter and government does not recognize Nagorno- relevant UN Security Council Resolutions," Karabakh as an independent state. Although Hikmat Hajiyev pointed out in a comment the French Senate resolution recognizing the published on his account. independence of the puppet regime in "Furthermore, it raises serious questions Nagorno-Karabakh is of no importance for regarding France's intentions and objective Azerbaijan, it is still a brazen attempt to push performance, be it as the Minsk Group co-chair the French government to violate the basic country or a UN Security Council permanent norms and principles of international law. It member." Hikmat Hajiyev also emphasized the also goes against commitments undertaken by fact that the latest resolution was a vivid France within the framework of the EU's global example of rising Islamophobia in France. strategy on foreign and security policy, Hikmat Hajiyev said that France's openly pro- including documents on the territorial integrity Armenian position had impeded the Nagorno- of states, consistently adopted by the Council Karabakh conflict's peaceful resolution and of the EU since 2016. blamed the French Senate for keeping silent about the occupation of Azerbaijani lands over

Mirza İbrahimov 8, Baku, AZ1005, Azerbaijan, Phone: (+994 12) 596-82-39, (+994 12) 596-82-41, E-mail: [email protected]