Azerbaijan APPG Chair Christopher Pincher backs MHR campaign

Baku, July 24 (AzerTAc). Christopher Pincher, UK MP for Tamworth, has given his backing to the ‘Many Happy Returns’ (MHR) campaign, aimed at raising awareness of the 1 million refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who are the ongoing victims of the Armenian–Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. Mr Pincher – who sits on the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee in the Westminster Parliament – has been Chair of the Azerbaijan All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) since 2012. Mr Pincher has first-hand experience of camps housing IDPs and refugees, including those in Sheki and Gabala. During the most recent APPG trip in May 2014, he spoke to the Azerbaijani media. He said: “We have visited the new settlements constructed in Sheki for some of the IDPs. These play an essential role in improving the living conditions for these people. We are aware of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its ongoing impact on Azerbaijan. We will raise a question in the UK Parliament, as this conflict should be settled and the IDPs should be able to return home.” Mr Pincher has now made the following statement on the ‘Many Happy Returns’ (MHR) campaign, aimed at highlighting the plight of the refugees and IDPs. He commented: “Seeing this makes us realise how lucky we are in the UK. Our hopes are with the IDPs for a speedy return to their homeland.” The title of the MHR campaign is based on the English birthday greeting ‘Many Happy Returns’ which, in this case, also refers to the wish of the IDPs and refugees to return to their rightful homeland. The website features photos of IDPs in just three of the camps spread across the 76 regions of Azerbaijan, taken by the renowned German photographer Philipp Rathmer. Despite a ceasefire between Azerbaijan and Armenia being called 20 years ago, and four UN Security Council resolutions being passed against the illegal Armenian occupation, those whose land was seized remain unable to go home. The MHR website also gives members of the public the opportunity to pledge their support for a poll – taking just 30 seconds – to redesignate ‘UN World Refugee Day’ as ‘World Refugee and IDP Day’.