APPEAL of the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum on Resolution Adopted by the European Parliament on Azerbaijan

Dear members of the European Parliament,

As you know, the Azerbaijani historically treated with respect the nations and peoples, their history, culture, customs and traditions, distinguished by their tolerance and they are always proud of such variegated features. It’s not a chance that nowadays, except the occupied territories more than 30 thousands of Armenians live in different regions of Azerbaijan. 

But time by time as a result of bloodsheds, deportations and genocide procreated in Armenia, not an Azerbaijani was left there, and their historical monuments, cemeteries, places of pilgrimage and mosques were destroyed. 

When the world community knows about these bitter facts, the EP Resolution dated from February 16, 2006 on demolition the Armenian cemetery in Julfa district of Azerbaijan Republic (the administrative district of the Nakhchivan Autonomic Republic) prepared without any real grounds, distorting the truth and accusing Azerbaijan, was met by people with just dissatisfaction and regret.

Instead of to condemn the ethnic cleaning and the genocide politics carried out by Armenia concerning the Azerbaijani in given Resolution, the EP position expressed by putting the equality sign between the expansionist Armenia and the expansion undergone Azerbaijan in this case, especially on eve of the 14^th Anniversary of the Xojaly Tragedy, greatly depressed  us. 

Besides, it’s absolutely inadmissible that there wasn’t said a single word in the Resolution about the facts that Armenia has occupied the 20% of Azerbaijan territories and as a result of this act more that 900 settlements, 6 thousand of industrial, agricultural, 4366 public-cultural institutions, 150 dwelling houses, 927 libraries, 464 historical monuments and museums, more than 100 archeological monuments, 6 state theatres and concert studios were destroyed,  more than 40 thousand of valuable things and rare exhibits were stolen, more than one million countrymen became refugees and internal displaced persons and the pecuniary damage of this expansive war for our country is estimated in the amount of 60 billion USD.  

We express our regret that despite the several appeals of Azerbaijan to European Parliament on related issues, but they were met with quite silence, no response was made and by its cold attitude Europe demonstrated its endurance to Armenian expansionist politics.

Being anxious about above mentioned the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum suggests to form special research mission to survey the destructive and armenianized facts of the Azerbaijani historical, religious and cultural monuments in Armenia and in occupied territories of Azerbaijan and ask you to send the mission without delay to the region.

We, the representatives of NGO call the European Parliamnet to take into account the noted facts, correctly evaluating the existing  situation  disaffirmate the adopted Resolution, and on the contrary, to adopt Resolution denouncing the expansionist policy of Armenia going on more than  15 years and demanding from Armenia to leave the occupied territories without any terms.

We believe that the European parliament adopting such brave and honest Resolution  will assist the restoration  of peace and safety in the region and fulfillment of demands of UN Security Council Resolutions № 822 (1993), 853 (1993), 874 (1993) and 884 (1993) by Armenia and will be non-substitutive gift for rapid integration of South Caucasus  countries into Europe.

With best regards,
Representatives of National NGO Forum (in total 403 NGOs)
Baku city,
February 20, 2006.