Azerbaijani MFA responds to EU High Rep`s statement
ArmInfo.Unfortunately, this response is yet another attempt by the EU High Representative to satisfy Armenians and make claims that have no moral or factual basis, and Azerbaijan denies these false and inflammatory allegations, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry declared this in response to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the EU Commission Josep Borrell's questions
to the European Parliament members about "Armenian prisoners," Trend reports.
"After the 2020 war, as a humanitarian gesture and following its
obligations under international humanitarian law, Azerbaijan released
and repatriated more than 200 Armenians considered prisoners of war
or detainees. All Armenian prisoners of war and civilians held in
Azerbaijan were treated following the requirements of the Geneva
Conventions of 1949 and were not subjected to torture, humiliation,
or inhuman treatment.
Each of them had been provided with medical care while under arrest,
they had undergone examinations, and the ICRC had held regular
meetings with them and ensured contact with their families.
Nevertheless, after they were returned from Azerbaijan to Armenia,
some of these persons were arrested and interrogated by the Armenian
authorities.
The remaining imprisoned war criminals, separatist leaders, and other
persons of Armenian origin are either accused of war crimes, ethnic
cleansing, military aggression, torture, and other serious crimes,
have already been convicted of these crimes, or are still under
investigation.
Following the Geneva Conventions, as well as international and
national legislation in general, Azerbaijan has rights and
obligations to investigate and prosecute such crimes. Such arrests
have a full legal basis and do not infringe on the rights of the
detainees.
Even if the detainees are prisoners of war, under Geneva Convention
III, prisoners of war who are prosecuted for an offense for which
they may be charged may be detained until a trial such as this one is
completed and, if appropriate, until the completion of their
sentence.
Furthermore, it would be more appropriate to draw the EU's attention
to the evidence of the Armenian side's ill-treatment of Azerbaijani
prisoners of war and civilian detainees, as well as missing
Azerbaijanis. Since the beginning of Armenia's military aggression,
more than 3,890 Azerbaijanis have gone missing, and their fate
remains unknown. Out of the missing, 3,171 are military personnel,
and 719 (including 71 children, 267 women, and 326 elderly) are
civilians.
Regarding comments on ensuring the rights of Armenians resettled in
Armenia and other countries, it is important to recall that despite
Azerbaijan's appeal for reintegration, program, and steps in this
direction, local persons of Armenian origin have decided to leave
Azerbaijan and not return.
Unfortunately, in almost 30 years, we have not witnessed any concerns
or appeals from the EU regarding the rights of the nearly one million
Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced persons who were
forcibly and ruthlessly evicted from their homes.
Azerbaijan expects that at this crucial moment, the EU will refrain
from biased statements undermining peace efforts in the region," the
statement reads.
In his statement on the latest developments Josep Borrell said:
"The European Union welcomes the actions taken by Armenia and
Azerbaijan and facilitated by Georgia that led to the release by
Azerbaijan of 15 Armenian detainees and the handing over by Armenia
of maps of mined areas on Saturday.
"These are important humanitarian and confidence building gestures by
Baku and Yerevan that will hopefully open the path for further
cooperation between the sides and the ultimate release of all
Armenian detainees, as well as the handing over of all available maps
of mined areas to avoid further civilian casualties.
"The European Union and other international actors have actively
encouraged moves in this direction and we urge further cooperation
between the countries involved.
"We will continue to promote a durable and comprehensive settlement
of the conflict, including where possible through support for
stabilisation, post conflict rehabilitation and confidence building
measures and reiterate our call on Armenia and Azerbaijan to reengage
in substantive negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-Chairs."