Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has extended a statement in connection with the Memory Day celebrated today, the press service of the Foreign Ministry reports
The statement says: “A year ago, on this day, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan began to take response to prevent the next military provocation of Armenian Armed Forces.
These measures were taken as part of the right to self-defense and in full compliance with international humanitarian law to prevent the next military aggression of Armenia and ensure the security of the civilian population. It marked the beginning of the 44-day Patriotic War.
The Patriotic War put an end to the politics of Armenia aggression, which lasted for almost 30 years, Azerbaijan provided its territorial integrity, the fundamental rights of about one million of Azerbaijanis were restored. Azerbaijan independently provided the relevant UN Security Council resolutions from 1993.
The termination of the occupation of the Azerbaijani territories revealed illegally activities of Armenia on these lands, the last decades: ubiquitous mining, deliberate destruction and illegal assignment of the historical, cultural and religious heritage of Azerbaijan, the looting of natural resources, the destruction of infrastructure and other violations of international law. The evidence of numerous military crimes of Armenia was also discovered. To bring Armenia to liability for violation of international humanitarian law and human rights, Azerbaijan appealed to the European Court of Human Rights and International Court.
The Government of Azerbaijan, which currently conducts work on recovery and reconstruction in the liberated territories, takes measures to ensure a safe and decent return of about a million Azerbaijani forced displaced persons to their homes and reintegrations of these land, ensuring sustainable peace, security and prosperity in the region In accordance with a trilateral statement of November 10, 2020.
The victory, which we won due to the courage of the Army of Azerbaijan under the leadership of the President, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev, opened a new era in the history of the Republic of Azerbaijan, changed the realities of the region and established international justice.
Azerbaijan is ready to normalize relations with Armenia based on strict compliance with the principles of international law, in particular, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-heins of international borders. We call upon Armenia to respect these fundamental principles and comply with its international obligations in order to ensure peace, security and prosperity in the region. “