Innocent people still dying due to Armenian-laid landmines Azerbaijani FM’s message to UN High Commissioner

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, as part of a working visit to Switzerland, met with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on September 13.

At the meeting, Bayramov noted that Azerbaijan is actively cooperating with UN human rights organisations within the constructive dialogue and mutual trust, the Azerbaijani foreign ministry told Caliber.Az.

He emphasised that Azerbaijan, fully committed to protecting the fundamental principles of human rights, constantly contributes to strengthening the international human rights system, promotes intercultural and interreligious dialogue and has achieved great success in this sphere.

Bayramov briefed the opposite side about Azerbaijan’s position regarding the current situation in the region, underlining Armenia’s ongoing military-political provocations, and statements made against Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

He noted that such steps do not serve peace and stability in the region and hinder the reintegration of the local Armenian population.

Bayramov said that Armenia committed war crimes, and crimes against humanity, including ethnic cleansing during almost 30 years of occupation.

The minister emphasised the unfoundedness of allegations about the “humanitarian situation” and “blockade” in the region, spoke about Armenia’s provocation against the Lachin border checkpoint, the process of hampering cargo transportation along the Aghdam-Khankandi road, ongoing attacks on Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, and the incomplete withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from Azerbaijani territories.

He added that all this poses a threat to peace and security.

Bayramov also noted during the meeting that despite the end of the conflict and the emergence of prospects for peace in the region, there are still big problems in the field of human rights.

The minister said that innocent people are still dying as a result of hundreds of thousands of mines planted by Armenia in the formerly occupied territories. This hinders restoration and construction work, as well as the return of internally displaced people to their native lands.