Azerbaijani community in Netherlands calls for fair representation of Karabakh realities

The Azerbaijani community has informed the Dutch Parliament about the realities of Karabakh. 

The Azerbaijani people living in the Netherlands were dissatisfied with the portrayal of the liberation of Azerbaijani territories in the section on "International Security" of the Dutch government's programme as the "occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh", Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The community has expressed that this characterisation contradicts international law and is used unjustly, prompting active responses from Azerbaijani diaspora organisations. The Azerbaijani community views this as a disrespect to Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and has issued statements in response. In this context, “Ana Veten” (Motherland) Union of Azerbaijani women of Europe has requested a meeting with Dutch parliamentarians to elevate the issue and has prepared a special petition to garner broad support.

This petition aims to draw attention from both the local Azerbaijani community and the international public to the significance and sensitivity of the issue. Given the potential negative impact of recent developments on the Netherlands-Azerbaijan relations, it is crucial to address the issue promptly.

A positive reply was received in response to their appeal, and members of the Dutch Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee met with the Azerbaijani community. MPs from various parties, including Raymond Roan (PVV), Isa Kahraman (NSC), Dogukan Ergin (DENK), and the committee chair, Jess Klaver (GroenLinks-PvdA) attended the meeting.

During the meeting, Azerbaijani diaspora organisations emphasised the importance of an objective and fair stance regarding the Karabakh conflict and Azerbaijan's victory in the second Karabakh war. They highlighted that the Dutch government, parliament, and journalists should avoid a one-sided approach to these issues and stressed the need to effectively communicate the true causes and consequences of the conflict to the international community. 

Diaspora representatives underscored the importance of disseminating factual, objective information to foster a better understanding of the situation and called on the Netherlands to adopt a clear and principled position on the issue. Additionally, the Azerbaijani side proposed that the Dutch Parliament should conduct an on-site investigation of the facts. The MPs were invited to make an official visit to Azerbaijan, tour the territories freed from occupation, and witness the consequences of the crimes committed there. 

The petition prepared by the community emphasises the desire of the Azerbaijani people to live peacefully with Armenians and to maintain harmonious relations with neighbouring countries. A key point highlighted in the petition is the indifference of the international community towards acts of vandalism committed by Armenians against Azerbaijan’s historical and cultural heritage during the first Karabakh war. 

The Armenians systematically destroyed ancient Azerbaijani monuments, mosques, museums, and other cultural sites in the occupied territories, while the international community has remained indifferent to these actions. 

The petition also addressed the fate of approximately 4,000 Azerbaijanis who were captured, went missing, or were taken hostage during the first Karabakh war. The Azerbaijani community informed the MPs that there is still no information about these individuals, and their fate remains unresolved. 

It was highlighted that international organisations, including the UN and the Council of Europe, have not given this issue the attention it deserves. Representatives of the diaspora, on behalf of the 15,000-strong Azerbaijani community in the Netherlands, urged the MPs to discuss these issues with due consideration in the relevant committees and during parliamentary sessions.

After the meeting, informal discussions and negotiations continued among the participants. Dogukan Ergin, a representative from the DENK party, particularly engaged with members of the Azerbaijani community, reiterating his support for the Azerbaijani people and those living in the Netherlands.

By Naila Huseynova