ICRC's attempt to clear its name steep in misconception
Caliber.Az's reaction to the Red Cross response
ANALYTICS 21 February 2023 - 10:05
Murad Abiyev Caliber.Az |
The editorial staff of Caliber.Az has earlier published the response of the International Committee of the Red Cross to its article "Red flags of ICRC's shady behaviour", where ICRC activities in Azerbaijan were criticized. We would like to discuss the response of the committee a bit, as it is written in a certain style, which, alas, we cannot afford to leave unnoticed.
Although in principle no detailed response was expected on the issues raised by the editorial team, the text of the ICRC message managed to surprise with its blatant irrelevance to the issues raised. Perhaps the first thing that came to mind was that the letter was not addressed to us, as almost none of our claims were answered. To be very fair, two points were answered, albeit indirectly and veiled. They were about the search and identification of the remains of the victims of the First Karabakh war and the moving out of people along the Lachin road.
All other critical problems highlighted in our article were ignored. Firstly, our statements are declared to be false without any proof. Then ICRC offered answers to the questions that we did not ask.
For example, the section on violations of international humanitarian law (IHL), where the committee goes into the rant about why it cannot disclose IHL violations and punish the perpetrators, is bewildering - as if anyone asked them to do so. A manipulative technique is used here, where instead of asking a question, the addressee comes up with a new one and gives an answer to it. The aim is to cloud the relevance of the issues raised, to which the questioner is unable to give an answer.
The rhetoric of the response message as a whole is constructed in this way: bypassing, for lack of facts, specific uncomfortable questions, the Red Cross is trying to pass off our just bewilderment as a misunderstanding of the basic principles of its work.
The leitmotif of this insinuation is a long-worded introduction about neutrality. "We have always been faithful to the basic principles that guide our work: neutrality - not interfering in politics or favouring any side; impartiality - helping affected people regardless of where they are from, where they live, or what they believe". And then there are several more paragraphs in the same vein.
Thus, it is clearly implied that the editorial staff of Caliber.Az is demanding from the Red Cross to take the side of Azerbaijan. There is obvious confusion, or more simply misconception because the situation is quite the opposite, i.e. the editorial staff calls on the ICRC to put aside its partiality and to show neutrality, which it speaks about with such enthusiasm.
One of the following paragraphs on neutrality, intended to evidently cool down the temper, is extremely ambiguous: "Our principles of neutrality and impartiality are not well understood by everyone, but remain integral to our humanitarian work."
We have to answer to this part that there are no principles of neutrality that are incomprehensible. The principles of neutrality are so simple and transparent that they should be visible and understandable to everyone. If the principles of neutrality are "not all understandable", it is not neutrality by definition, but something else, such as double standards.
The ICRC calls our allegations false. Let's not dwell on all the points now, and focus on one of them. The central point of our claims is the ICRC's reluctance to change the management centre of its office in Khankendi from the Yerevan office to the Baku office. Is this a false claim? Or does the ICRC think that the aforementioned all-important part about neutrality answers all possible questions? If so, it is worth emphasizing that no consideration of neutrality, or any other consideration, can explain the ICRC's inaction in this matter, as these considerations, in this case, are not in conflict with the requirement to respect the sovereignty of the State on whose territory you are working. If the Committee does not do this in order not to cause unnecessary psychological discomfort to the Karabakh Armenian community, it only underlines that it has chosen a particular side. What neutrality are we talking about in this case?
The editorial team certainly welcomes the very fact that the ICRC has reacted to the article concerning its activities. However, the committee's use of blatantly manipulative rhetoric in its communications with the media is bewildering. This style of communication adds yet another brick to the wall of distrust of Azerbaijani society towards the ICRC. We hope that in the future the Red Cross will take this into account and respond to the substance of the issues, which will undoubtedly arise again and again.
Caliber.Az
1
|
700 tunnel shafts found in Rafah, 50 cross into Egypt Israel informs South Africa at UN top court
17 May 2024 - 15:56
|
2
|
All eyes on November 2024: Baku, Yerevan on verge of historic peace deal Nations poised to reconcile without mediators
15 May 2024 - 10:33
|
3
|
New Caledonia crisis mirrors Macron's hypocrisy on Azerbaijan France faces its own crisis
17 May 2024 - 17:20
|
4
|
France's coercive colonial policies in New Caledonia Hypocrisy, repression, struggle for self-determination
16 May 2024 - 17:29
|
5
|
Political unrest in Armenia & Georgia amid Azerbaijan's rebuilding efforts in Karabakh South Caucasus in flux
16 May 2024 - 17:18
|
Armenia, Netherlands mull bilateral relations, Baku-Yerevan peace treaty
18 May 2024 - 12:26
Azerbaijan sets priorities ahead of COP29
"Green" financing, ESG implementation18 May 2024 - 12:13
Pashinyan visits border village to persuade discontented residents, claims revanchist archbishop
18 May 2024 - 12:03
Gunmen kill three Spanish tourists in Afghanistan's central Bamyan province
18 May 2024 - 12:00
Israeli strike on West Bank's Jenin kills alleged militant leader, injures 8
18 May 2024 - 11:48
Turkish transport minister outlines timeline for Zangezur corridor launch
18 May 2024 - 11:38
Senegalese prime minister criticises French military bases on territory
18 May 2024 - 11:37
Azerbaijani oil price nears $85
18 May 2024 - 11:24
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi to discuss Zaporizhzhya NPP in Russia visit
18 May 2024 - 11:12
Azerbaijani deputy defence ministers emphasize combat readiness, training reforms
Meeting with reservists18 May 2024 - 11:00
Axios: US, Iran held indirect talks this week on avoiding more attacks
18 May 2024 - 10:48
Azerbaijan, Cuba focus on strengthening ties, cooperation ahead of COP29
18 May 2024 - 10:36
European leaders oppose Kosovo's bid for Council of Europe membership
18 May 2024 - 10:24
India awaits clear proposals from Armenia on Chabahar Port use - Ambassador
18 May 2024 - 10:12
Georgia's president rejects amendments to foreign agents law
18 May 2024 - 10:00
Germany expresses readiness to aid peace talks between Baku and Yerevan
18 May 2024 - 09:48
Azerbaijan highlights post-conflict reconstruction at Council of Europe meeting
18 May 2024 - 09:36
European Union supports continuation of Armenia, Azerbaijan border delimitation
18 May 2024 - 09:25
Azerbaijan, US mull cooperation, regional peace
18 May 2024 - 09:11
Why Xi’s European tour was a quiet but effective victory over the US
18 May 2024 - 09:00
Ukraine's new long-range missiles leave Russians "nowhere to hide"
PHOTO18 May 2024 - 07:10
Asian refiners diversify away from Middle Eastern oil
18 May 2024 - 05:08
How Taiwan still hangs on to property in bits of China
18 May 2024 - 03:06
Right US-China policy prioritizes collaboration despite competition
18 May 2024 - 01:04
Saudi Arabia: Why Mohammed bin Salman failed Gaza
17 May 2024 - 23:02
Russia aims for enhanced transport connectivity in greater Eurasia
17 May 2024 - 20:54
Armenian premier rejects opposition's demand for resignation
17 May 2024 - 20:36
Online Azerbaijan project aims for nationwide broadband coverage with 35 Mbps by end of 2024
17 May 2024 - 20:17
Turkish army neutralizes 1,000 terrorists since January 2024 - ministry
17 May 2024 - 19:59
Belarus president concludes state visit to Azerbaijan
17 May 2024 - 19:55
Baku Int’l Sea Trade Port aims for carbon neutrality by 2035, says port head
17 May 2024 - 19:43
Kazakhstan set to launch new production at Baikonur Cosmodrome
17 May 2024 - 19:24
Türkiye in advanced talks with China's BYD, Chery for EV plants
17 May 2024 - 19:12
Slovakia's PM Robert Fico remains in serious condition after further surgery
17 May 2024 - 19:00
French police kill man who set fire to Rouen synagogue
17 May 2024 - 18:47
Anatolian Phoenix-2024 search & rescue drills conclude in Konya, Türkiye
17 May 2024 - 18:45
European Council suspends broadcasting activity of four Russian media outlets
17 May 2024 - 18:35
Azerbaijan, UN mull cooperation, upcoming COP29
17 May 2024 - 18:21
Türkiye hosts discussions on importance of Zangezur corridor
17 May 2024 - 18:08
Karabakh revival tops agenda of Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers meeting
17 May 2024 - 17:56