President Ilham Aliyev: Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity recognized by int’l community must be restored

Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 31 / Trend S. Aliyev / Unfortunately, Azerbaijan confronted with a humanitarian catastrophe, as country's lands recognized by the international community have been under occupation for many years, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said during the opening ceremony of the Third Baku International Humanitarian Forum today. "Ancestral lands of Azerbaijan - Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions are under the occupation of aggressive forces of Armenia," the President noted, adding that more than one million of Azerbaijanis became refugees and IDPs in their native home land. "Some 20 percent of our lands are under occupation. All our cultural heritage and historical and religious monuments were destroyed in the occupied territories," Ilham Aliyev said. "International organizations, in particular the OSCE, sent the fact-investigating missions to the occupied regions twice. It is clearly indicated in their reports that everything was destroyed. International organizations indicated their principled position on this issue in the documents. Four UN Security Council resolutions call for withdrawing of the Armenian forces from the occupied territories. The European Parliament, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Council of Europe and other organizations made similar decisions and resolutions. But, unfortunately, these decisions and resolutions are not fulfilled," the President noted. According to him, it is necessary to raise the question of the effectiveness of international organizations because their decisions have remained on paper and they are not being fulfilled. Azerbaijani President said that in some cases the resolutions adopted by the international organizations are fulfilled within hours, while the aforementioned resolutions have remained on paper for more than 20 years. "The negotiations are being held in connection with this issue," he said. "Of course, internationally recognized territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be restored. More than one million refugees, internally displaced persons must return home. This is their fundamental right. This conflict is also a gross violation of human rights." "More than one million Azerbaijani citizens can not return home. Of course, this major humanitarian catastrophe caused great impact on the entire development of our country," the President said. Ilham Aliyev underscored that Azerbaijan's current development attracts more attention because being occupied the country could achieve this development. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az