We categorically reject the unfounded accusations and biased attitude towards Azerbaijan in the statement adopted by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe on October 26 regarding the Garabagh region of our country, the delegation of Azerbaijan at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe said in a statement, APA reports.
The Azerbaijani delegation states in the statement that during the long period of Azerbaijan's membership in the Council of Europe, 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory has been under Armenian occupation, and nearly a million Azerbaijanis have been forcibly displaced as a result of Armenia's policy of ethnic cleansing. However, during the previous period, these issues have never been specifically discussed in the Congress, and no clear position has been taken on the severe violation of international law and its humanitarian consequences. Furthermore, in the post-war period since 2020, no attention has been paid to the humanitarian problems faced by Azerbaijan, including the complete destruction of hundreds of residential areas in the liberated territories, the widespread contamination of these areas with landmines, and the impact on Azerbaijani IDPs' safe and dignified return to their homes.
Against this backdrop, the acceptance of a statement by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, distorting the local anti-terrorism measures taken by Azerbaijan on September 19-20, 2023, aimed at eliminating the security threat posed by illegal Armenian armed groups on Azerbaijani sovereign territories, is deeply regrettable. Furthermore, the Congress fails to acknowledge in this statement Azerbaijan's consistent efforts for lasting peace in the region and the successive steps taken towards the reintegration of Armenian residents in the Garabagh region. Additionally, the destabilizing and provocative activities by Armenia aimed at undermining these efforts have not been appropriately recognized in this declaration.
In this regard, we consider the Congress's involvement in a deliberate political campaign against Azerbaijan and its disruption of constructive cooperation between our country and this institution as irresponsible. As the Azerbaijani delegation, we outright reject this unjust treatment towards our country and call on the Congress to exercise necessary caution in matters related to the peace process in our region, and to act within the confines of its mandate in a serious manner.
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