“Azerbaijan considers that the findings rely not on the Commissioner’s direct observations during her visit but primarily on information obtained from other incomplete and biased sources,” said Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry as it commented on the report/observations by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights following her visit to Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“While the Commissioner refers to December 2021 Order of the ICJ, she overlooks that fact of indication of provisional measure requesting Armenia to prevent the incitement and promotion of racial hatred and discrimination against Azerbaijan
The Azerbaijani side regrets that the meetings of the Commissioner with the survivors of Khojaly genocide perpetrated by Armenia, as well as with members of Western Azerbaijani Community expelled from their homes in modern day Armenia were not reflected in the report.
This would have ensured accurate reflection of the visit of the Commissioner, as well as a more comprehensive approach to human rights issues that the report aimed to cover, including the right to return.
It is of particular importance, since the Commissioner herself reiterates in the observations that all persons displaced by the long-lasting conflict have the right to return to their homes or places of habitual residence, regardless of whether they have been displaced internally or across borders.
Finally, it is essential to mention that Azerbaijan extended the invitation to the Commissioner to visit the region, expecting that it will make observations based on neutrality, impartiality, equality and universality of all human rights. While noting the visit’s outcomes, Azerbaijan emphasizes that the observations of the Commissioner lack complete fairness and impartiality. It focuses the issues on narrow and sole perspective that overlooks comprehensive review of the situation.
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