Domestic

Domestic

Azerbaijani listeners object to statement by former General Director of Political Questions of the Council of Europe

03 July 2007 09:40 (UTC +04:00)

The representative of Constitutional Council of France Dominique Schnapper and Hans-Peter Furrer, former General Director of Political Questions of the Council of Europe addressing the conference gave information about citizenship in democratic society, notions of nationality and identification, human rights, democracy, system of civil society.
Furrer touching on the theme of conflicts stated that since Russia is held responsible for the South Ossetia and Abkhazia conflicts, Armenia started Nagorno Karabakh conflict for releasing Armenians living in that area. Mr.Furrer claimed that Armenia ousted Azerbaijanis living in Nagorno Karabakh for releasing Nagorno Karabakh Armenians. The director of Baku school Ilgar Mammadov objecting to these opinions told Mr.Furrer that it will be better to gather thorough information before speaking of the causes of the conflict. He told the rapporteur that 120 thousand Armenians and 250 thousand Azerbaijanis were living in Nagorno Karabakh before the conflict began.
â€œAll these Azerbaijanis have been displaced from Armenia, their original places. It would be better to base on thorough information, not on considerations and personal impressions while speaking about the causes of the conflict,â€ he said.
The listener of Baku school Gunduz Karimov stressed that Azerbaijanis and the state are tolerant and respect all nations.
â€œI will not speak largely on the causes of the conflict, I only want to underline that there are more than one million refugees and IDPs in Azerbaijan as a conclusion of the conflict, and 20% of our lands, including Nagorno Karabakh and seven surrounding regions have been occupied by Armenian forces. I ask Mr. Furrer to gather information before making such mistakes,â€ he said. /APA/