Almost all PACE delegates used the definition of ethnic cleansing in their speeches last week when describing what happened to the forcibly displaced Armenians from Nagorno Karabakh. During the fall session of the PACE, several discussions were organized on the topic of forced displacement of the population of Nagorno Karabakh. First, a discussion on “The humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and the obligations of Azerbaijan” was held outside the plenary session.
Then, the assembly discussed the issue of “The humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh” during the plenary session in an urgent procedure. As a result of the discussion, the resolution “Humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh” and the consultation of the same name were adopted, in which it is recorded that “almost the entire population of Karabakh has left their homeland due to the threat of physical destruction and the long-standing anti-Armenian policy of the Azerbaijani government.” The resolution condemns Azerbaijan’s military operations against Nagorno Karabakh on September 19, 2023.
Sharp discussions and severe criticisms of Azerbaijan preceded the adoption of the resolution. The speakers of all PACE political groups stated that what happened to the population of NK was ethnic cleansing. PACE delegates also gave sharp speeches. Swiss delegate Pierre Allan Friede announced that during the January session, when the blockade of the Lachin Corridor was being discussed, Azerbaijan’s goal was already evident. The deputy stated that we cannot help but see that all this is like a well-organized program of ethnic cleansing.
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“Drama with several acts. First, a blockade that starves and psychologically destabilizes the trapped Armenians for nine months. The second action was a sudden armed attack with significant resources and the passivity of the Russian peacekeeping forces, which inevitably raised a wave of terror among the population who had been living in hell for months. The third act: a miracle. The miracle of the Lachin Corridor, the end of the benefit of the blockade after nine months, but only in the direction of the exit, which allows the threatened Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh to flee en masse to Armenia, leaving their homes and leaving behind all their possessions and their past. The Swiss MP reminded that they have been talking about this topic on every occasion for months, but they have only received a denial from their Azerbaijani colleagues. “All we got from our Azerbaijani partners was a constant denial. Even at the commission session, some described their attitude as cynicism. Today’s urgent priority is the fate of tens of thousands of people who were forced to leave their homes and become refugees. He said that although the Azerbaijani delegation claims today that they want to adopt a constructive attitude, he also reminded the Azerbaijanis often disappointed in the past.
In their speeches, almost all PACE delegates defined ethnic cleansing when describing what happened to the forcibly displaced Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. ALDE group member, French delegate Bertrand Bouillot said. “Today, there are no Armenians left in Nagorno-Karabakh. One hundred twenty thousand people had to flee after the occupation of the territory by the Azerbaijani troops. That is ethnic cleansing. These people have lost their homes, history, and everything that is their life. One hundred twenty thousand people uprooted from Nagorno-Karabakh are 120 thousand refugees in Armenia. It should not be the problem of Armenia only; it is the problem of all of us and, first of all, Azerbaijan.” German delegate Max Lux expressed concern that Azerbaijan is removing the Armenian trace from Nagorno Karabakh. “In 1216, the first Armenian monastery was founded in Nagorno-Karabakh, and Mr.
Samad Seyidov says that Armenian life and Armenian culture, which existed in Nagorno-Karabakh for centuries, was eliminated in four weeks. Now, it is too late for words of warning. If the EU does not impose sanctions on Azerbaijan now, the message is clear: the dictator did not fear any consequences after the forced deportation of more than 100,000 Armenians.” According to the MP, effective sanctions should be applied. “If we do not cancel our gas contracts now, we will encourage Azerbaijan to carry out further military operations. Mr. Ilham Aliyev is playing a game with human lives, and it must be stopped. There should not be any direct connection between Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan through the Armenian territory, and there will not be any. Suppose this assembly does not want to lose its credibility. In that case, we must do everything now to protect the state of Armenia and the Armenians through humanitarian aid and concrete political sanctions. No more genocide, no more ethnic cleansing, no more deportation.”
Icelandic delegate Berg Thorstein also reminded that he was in Nagorno- Karabakh in 2020. “I was in Nagorno- Karabakh during the 2020 war. I saw with my own eyes the destruction of Azerbaijan: family apartments, schools, churches, hospitals, everything was bombed. I spoke to people seeking shelter in the basement of the bombed Shushi temple. I will never forget this. I have also been to Azerbaijan and visited the graves of hundreds of young people who died in the war.”
Pieter Omtzigt, the deputy representing the Netherlands, stated that an entire national minority no longer lives in Nagorno Karabakh. “This was exactly what we wanted to prevent when Armenia and Azerbaijan joined the Council of Europe. They promised to use only peaceful means to resolve the conflict, but now, a whole population had to be displaced from their homes. This is not only a crisis between Azerbaijan and Armenia but also for this particular organization. We did nothing when Russia occupied Crimea. Now, we are not able to take decisive steps when an entire area is subjected to ethnic cleansing.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
“Aravot” daily, 14.10.2023
