Ocampo's misguided call: Former ICC prosecutor's absurd appeal to Armenians Exploiting COP29 for false narratives

"Stupidity is a gift from God, but one mustn't misuse it," is a phrase attributed to Otto von Bismarck. It seems Luis Moreno Ocampo, the former International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor, has taken this advice to heart in a most perplexing manner. On a scorching July day, Ocampo made a bewildering appeal to Armenians worldwide, urging them to "Bring the world to a truly peaceful COP29!"

The suggestion appears as nonsensical as it is unfounded. Is Ocampo suggesting Armenians should recreate COP29? This odd proposal might be seen as a reflection of Ocampo's propensity for grandiose, yet misguided statements. Armenians have long been accused of appropriating cultural elements from other nations, including Azerbaijani influences, and misrepresenting them as their own. This includes culinary traditions, musical compositions, and even historical figures, whom Armenian mythmakers often claim as their own, despite historical inaccuracies.

Ocampo's comments seem to dive into the same pool of misinformed and exaggerated rhetoric. He spoke of Armenians as "reborn from the ashes of the 'genocide' of 1915," in an apparent attempt to magnify his own relevance to the Armenian cause. However, this assertion overlooks the reality that no one can be reborn from ashes.

Furthermore, Ocampo's reference to the Armenian genocide fails to account for the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) judgment on the case brought by Turkish lawyer and politician Dogu Perincek against Switzerland. The ECHR noted that achieving a general consensus on the events of that period is challenging and that historical studies do not necessarily lead to a single definitive conclusion. Thus, the court did not provide a legal assessment of the events, distancing itself from making an absolute judgment.

Ocampo's pronouncements on the Armenian genocide, therefore, remain his personal perspective rather than an established fact, used possibly to further his own narrative rather than contributing constructively to the debate.

Luis Moreno Ocampo's recent statements regarding COP29, scheduled to take place in Azerbaijan this November, suggest an ongoing agenda to highlight what he terms a "grave injustice." The former ICC prosecutor's rhetoric implies that the conference presents a unique chance to address this alleged injustice. However, the nature of this "grave injustice" is all too familiar—Ocampo is once again echoing his sponsors' discredited narratives about "atrocities against Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh."

Ocampo's previous claims have been equally problematic. He controversially characterized the voluntary departure of Armenians from the Karabakh region as a form of coercion, ignoring the fact that Armenians residing in the temporarily occupied territories were offered the option to acquire Azerbaijani citizenship.

In his controversial report, Ocampo said "The blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan is a genocide against the ethnic Armenians of Karabakh". This characterization conveniently omitted critical details, such as the fact that the Karabakh junta itself had blocked the corridor, and created artificial shortages of essential goods like sunflower oil, sugar, and cereals — evidence of which was uncovered when warehouses were opened.

Ocampo's continued assertions of "genocide" regarding the Armenians from Karabakh, who were able to evacuate safely and were even given water and sweets by Azerbaijani law enforcement, illustrate a flawed narrative. His persistent cries of "genocide" appear increasingly disconnected from the reality on the ground.

Ocampo's recent call for Armenians to use COP29 as a platform to address alleged injustices seems equally misplaced. Notably, Armenia itself supported Baku's bid to host COP29, and Azerbaijan extended a gesture of goodwill by inviting Yerevan to the conference. This context undermines Ocampo’s claims, rendering them a futile exercise in misplaced outrage.

Moreover, with the US State Department emphasizing COP29 as a chance to showcase Azerbaijan’s leadership in alternative energy, Ocampo's attempts to politicize the event are increasingly irrelevant. His actions now seem like a misguided attempt to exploit a global platform for personal or partisan gain, marking yet another instance of his abuse of rhetoric.

By Akbar Hasanov