BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 1. A group of Azerbaijani
NGOs has addressed an open letter to Ursula von der Leyen,
President of the European Commission, António Costa, President of
the European Council, the heads of state and governments
participating in the 8th European Political Community Summit and
the EU-Armenia Summit.
Trend presents
the letter:
"Dear Ms. von der Leyen,
Dear Mr. Costa,
Dear heads of state and governments participating in the 8th
European Political Community Summit and the EU-Armenia Summit!
The South Caucasus is undergoing a great transformation
following the Washington Summit last summer. Azerbaijan and Armenia
are moving closer to lasting peace.
As Europe deepens its engagement with the South Caucasus, we,
the undersigned representatives of Azerbaijani civil society and
human rights organizations call on you to support peace and
normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia while also
paying close attention to humanitarian problems such as missing
persons and landmines faced by Azerbaijan.
Currently, nearly 4000 Azerbaijanis, including 71 children, 287
women and 319 elderly persons have been missing since the First
Garabagh War. Strong evidence suggests that these people have been
tortured and killed, which constitutes war crimes.
For over 30 years, Armenia has failed to provide information
regarding the fate of these individuals and the location of mass
graves. The pain and suffering of the families of these 4 thousand
missing persons represents a humanitarian tragedy that remains
largely ignored by the international community.
32 mass graves have been discovered since the liberation of
Azerbaijani territories in 2020. The remains of 91 individuals from
these mass graves have been identified and buried. The burial of
these individuals has given their families long-awaited closure and
relief.
Some Armenian field commanders have stated that they have
information about the location of mass graves of Azerbaijanis
killed during the First Garabagh War. We call on you, among others,
to pressure Armenia to question these individuals and to share
information on the locations of mass graves with Azerbaijan.
Another pressing humanitarian challenge is landmine
contamination in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. Armenia’s
refusal to provide accurate and complete minefield maps has
resulted in more than 400 deaths and injuries since the end of the
Second Garabagh War in 2020. This "hidden war" slows reconstruction
efforts in Garabagh and East Zangezur regions of Azerbaijan and
prevents hundreds of thousands of former internally displaced
persons from returning to their homes in safety and dignity.
In light of the above, we invite you to urge Armenia to release
information on missing Azerbaijanis and provide accurate minefield
maps of the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. The resolution of
these issues can serve as a practical confidence-building measure
by Armenia.
We would like to believe that during your upcoming visit to
Armenia, you will demonstrate Europe’s collective determination to
addressing these humanitarian challenges that greatly affect
Azerbaijan.
Signed by:
1. Ramil Iskandarli – Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan
National NGO Forum
2. Konul Behbudova – Chairwoman of the “Garabagh Missing
Families” Public Union
3. Amir Aliyev – Chairman of the “Center for the Promotion of
Human Rights” Public Union
4. Novella Jafarova - Chairwoman of the Dilara Aliyeva
Azerbaijan Women's Rights Society
5. Saadat Bananyarli - Chairwoman of the "Azerbaijan National
Unit of the International Human Rights Society" Public Union
6. Hafiz Safikhanov - Chairman of the “Azerbaijan Campaign
Against Landmines” Public Union
7. Rey Gasimov - Chairman of the “Association of Landmine
Victims in Azerbaijan” Public Union
8. Alimammad Nuriyev – Head of the “Constitution” Research
Fund
9. Saltanat Gojamanli - Chairwoman of the "Protection of Human
Rights and Legality" Public Union
10. Irada Rzazada - Chairwoman of the Public Union “For Social
Well-being of Citizens”
11. Oghuz Mammadov - Chairman of "Zangi - Study of Historical
Heritage" Public Union
12. Fuad Mammadov - Chairman of the "Simurg" Azerbaijan Cultural
Association
13. Zaur Ibrahimli - Member of the Board of the Azerbaijan
National NGO Forum
14. Khatira Valiyeva – Member of the Board of the Azerbaijan
National NGO Forum
15. Elshad Eyvazov - Chairman of the Independent Journalists
Public Union
16. Sevinc Alizade – Chairwoman of the “Victory” Support to
Families of Martyrs Public Union
17. Umud Rahimoghlu - Chairman of the International Eurasia
Press Fund
18. Zaur Mammadov - Chairman of the Baku Club of Political
Scientists
19. Ayaz Mirzayev – Chairman of the “Azerbaijani Journalists
Network” Public Union
20. Haji Abdulla – Chairman of the “Zangezur” Societies Public
Union
21. Fariz Khalilli – Chairman of the "Miras" Public Association
for the Promotion of Cultural Heritage
22. Lala Sardarli - "Support to the Protection and Promotion of
Applied Art" Public Union
23. Shahla Naghiyeva - Chairwoman of the “Sonmez Mashal”
Cultural Relations Public Union
24. Tunzala Abdullalimova – Chairwoman of the “For the
Motherland - Support to Families of Martyrs” Public Union
25. Farida Mirishova- Chairwoman of the "Iz" Culture Development
and Support Public Union
26. Jeyran Hasanova – Chairwoman of the “Support to Mothers of
Martyrs” Public Union
27. Khalid Kazimov - Chairman of the Regional Human Rights and
Media Center Public Union
28. Keramet Ismayılov – Chairman of the Public Union for
Economic and Social Development
29. Fikret Yusifov – President of the "Economics" International
Economic Research Public Union
30. Agil Jamal – Chairman of the “Common Values” Public
Union
31. Shalala Hasanova - Chairwoman of the “Support to the
Development of Public Relations” Public Union
32. Varis Yolchiyev - Director of the Azerbaijan Literary
Fund
33. Khatai Alasgarov - "Dada Alasgar Home" Public Union
34. Dilgam Ahmad – Chairman of the “Chapar – Center for the
Study of National Heritage” Public Union
35. Jasarat Huseynzade - Chairman of the Public Union to Support
Information and Social Initiatives
