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Thomas Hammarberg meets Azerbaijani parliamentarians

07 September 2007 15:51 (UTC +04:00)

All spheres were debated at the meeting. They mostly focus their attention on Armeniaâ€™s occupation of 20 per cent of Azerbaijani territories, 1 million refugees. The Commissioner was told that the main problem of Azerbaijan is restoration of its territorial integrity and returning of refugees and IDPs to their native places. They said thousands of people were removed from IDP camps to the houses constructed for them, there will be no IDP camp next year and everybody will be provided with individual houses. The other debated issue was connected with prisoners of war, hostages and missing persons. The parliamentarians said over 700 Azerbaijanis are in Armenian captivity.
â€œArmenia does not return them. It contradicts international conventions,â€ he said.
The parliamentarians asked Thomas Hammarberg who said will visit Armenia, to raise this issue there. The commissioner was also told that Armenia from its positions in the occupied territories violates rights of Azerbaijanis living in the villages near the front line.
â€œArmenians cause troubles for these people, they are cut off water. They are often targeted at by snipers,â€ he said.
Expanding of the relations and cooperation between the Council of Europe and Azerbaijan was also discussed at the meeting. /APA/