Khalafov said Azerbaijan supports OHCHR efforts to protect human rights worldwide, adding that Azerbaijan gives much importance to cooperating with all the mechanisms of the UN human rights system.
The deputy minister mentioned that the protection of human rights in Azerbaijan is taking place under the direct control and attention of the head of state. According to Khalafov, the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict is an obstacle to full provision of human rights in the country. He noted that the Armenian military aggression resulted in the occupation of 20 percent Azerbaijani territory and more than a million Azerbaijanis becoming refugees and IDPs. The deputy minister then emphasized the need to step up international efforts for the fulfillment of the right of the Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs to return to their lands in a decent and safe way.
The deputy minister went on to mention that since early April 2016 Armenian armed forces have been shelling densely populated Azerbaijani residential areas along the contact line of troops, using heavy artillery and large-caliber weapons, killing and wounding a number of Azerbaijani civilians, destroying a large number of buildings, schools and other social facilities. He added that the renewed ceasefire agreement is being continuously violated by Armenia.
Zeid Ra`ad Al Hussein in his turn praised the current level of Azerbaijan’s cooperation with the UN human rights system, including the OHCHR. He thanked the Azerbaijani side for the information given to him as to the current state of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and the situation of refugees and IDPs in the country. At the same time, he expressed great concern over the military clashes that took place on the contact line of troops during April 2-5 this year.
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