Davit Khazhakyan, member of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, addressed the Congress of the Council of Europe on the rights of citizens displaced from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) due to the Azerbaijani aggression.
“Dear Colleagues,
We are discussing the challenges cities and regions face due to the increasing number of Internally Displaced Persons, and I should state, that these challenges are compelled not only by economic factors, disasters or conflicts outside of the European borders, but by the hostilities undertaken by one Member State of the Council of Europe.
Almost a year ago, Azerbaijan, with direct involvement of Turkey and terrorist mercenaries unleashed a large-scale military aggression against the people of Nagorno Karabakh, breaching its Council of Europe accession commitment and perpetrating despicable atrocity crimes against the civilian population and causing long-lasting humanitarian consequences.
Dear Colleagues,
We are discussing the challenges cities and regions face due to the increasing number of Internally Displaced Persons, and I should state, that these challenges are compelled not only by economic factors, disasters or conflicts outside of the European borders, but by the hostilities undertaken by one Member State of the Council of Europe.
Almost a year ago, Azerbaijan, with direct involvement of Turkey and terrorist mercenaries unleashed a large-scale military aggression against the people of Nagorno Karabakh, breaching its Council of Europe accession commitment and perpetrating despicable atrocity crimes against the civilian population and causing long-lasting humanitarian consequences.
As a result of this aggression more than 91 000 people fled to Armenia, 88% of them were women and children. More that 40 000 people were deprived of their homes and property as their villages and towns are currently occupied by Azerbaijani armed forces.
Since the very first days of the Azerbaijani aggression the Governments of both the Republic of Artsakh and the Republic of Armenia have developed urgent social assistance programs, which were aimed at addressing the most pressing humanitarian needs.
The main burden fell on local municipalities and regional authorities, which launched numerous assistance programs supporting the displaced people of Artsakh.
Despite the efforts undertaken by the authorities, the victims of forced displacement in Artsakh are still largely deprived of the international humanitarian assistance, protection and still have little prospect for durable solution. The founding document of the Council of Europe, the European Convention on Human Rights should encompass all the people without any distinction.
Unfortunately this is not the case, as the people of Artsakh are deprived of their fundamental rights. Grave security concerns, high level state policy of intolerant hate speech towards Armenian people, neglect to release all Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives hinder the pavement of path towards possible reconciliation and any hope for finding durable peace in the region to enable the return of IDPs and refugees to the homes,” Khazhakyan stated.
