The Azerbaijani parliament expressed its reaction to the resolution of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives.

Axar.az reports that according to the information provided by the Milli Majlis, the legislative body expresses its strong protest against the unilateral and biased resolution adopted by the Belgian Chamber of Representatives on July 17 and resolutely rejects the groundless accusations made against our country in the resolution.

It was noted that the authors of this document, which is based on unverified, incorrect and one-sided information, ignore the political, legal and humanitarian situation that has recently developed in the South Caucasus region, show disregard for the principles and norms of international law, and do not list the criteria of justice and objectivity that every parliament should be guided by.

The resolution essentially denies the legitimate and sovereign right of the Republic of Azerbaijan to restore its territorial integrity. The anti-terrorist operation carried out by Azerbaijan in September 2023 was directed only against the remnants of the Armenian army and illegal armed groups operating in the territory of Karabakh and was fully consistent with international law. No civilians were harmed during this operation, and no religious or cultural monuments were damaged.

The attempts of the members of the Belgian parliament to accuse Azerbaijan of “war crimes” and “human rights violations” are baseless and politically motivated. The resolution silently passes over the 30-year occupation of Azerbaijani lands by the Armenian armed forces, the numerous crimes committed against the peaceful Azerbaijani population during this period, acts of genocide, the displacement of 750,000 Azerbaijanis in their homeland as a result of ethnic cleansing, the destruction of our cities and villages, the plundering and insulting of our national, cultural, religious and historical heritage. Instead, Azerbaijan, which is trying to establish peace and justice on its land, has been subjected to unjust attacks.

As for the part of the resolution on “illegal arrests”, it is worth recalling that the Armenian nationals currently under judicial investigation in Baku are accused of committing crimes such as military aggression, war crimes, enforced disappearances, torture, terrorism, etc., on the territory of Azerbaijan. Their relevant rights are ensured, the trial is conducted transparently, and there are no complaints about cruel treatment. Making claims to the contrary is nothing more than interfering in the internal affairs of a sovereign state.

It should also be noted with regret that the resolution contains a provocative and erroneous interpretation of the concept of “Western Azerbaijan”, which implies the right of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis who were massively deported or forcibly expelled from Armenia to peacefully return to their ancestral lands. This concept expresses the desire for justice of our people, who are faithful to their historical memory, and is fully consistent with international law.

Contrary to the goals declared in the resolution, this document does not at all help efforts to establish peace. In a situation where serious steps have been taken recently to advance the peace agenda, forces in the parliaments of countries such as Belgium and Switzerland, as well as in the European Parliament, which have ties to the Armenian diaspora, are trying to disrupt the peace process and create a new source of tension in the region.

The Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan calls on the members of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives to abandon the practice of adopting such documents that are not based on an objective approach, to respect the principles and norms of international law, the rights of all peoples of the region, and to refrain from steps that could escalate the situation.