Doc. 11147
23 January 2007

New threats by Armenia to the territorial integrity and cultural heritage of Azerbaijan

Written question No 517 to the Committee of Ministers
presented by Mr Rafael Huseynov

Having occupied Nakhorno-Karabakh and seven neighbouring districts which are an integral part of Azerbaijan, Armenia is maintaining these territories under its control and does not intend to bring an end to its aggressive policy in spite of all the efforts made by international organisations. Armenia is taking concrete measures to extend the scope of the occupation by turning the occupied territories to ruins, disrupting their ecological balance and destroying and seizing their forest and vegetative cover. Having appropriated historical monuments and various examples of folk art, including thousands of carpets stolen from the occupied territories, Armenia now dares to declare itself the owner of the ancient tombstones of Azerbaijan, in order to create false evidence to show that these territories are Armenian possessions. Until the 9th century, before the coming of Islam to Azerbaijan, Christianity was one of the major religions of the country. Armenians are trying to appropriate numerous Azerbaijani Christian monuments, churches and other buildings with the sign of the cross and tombstones in the different corners of Azerbaijan including those situated in the occupied territories. One of the regions which Armenia intends to occupy is Nakhchivan. Armenia makes no official attempt to conceal its intention of capturing the Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan, on which it has imposed a blockade. Armenia now has plans to occupy Nakhchivan. At an exhibition of cultural monuments of this region, which it managed to organise in the municipal centre of Strasbourg in December 2006, it described Nakhchivan as a territory directly belonging to it. The fact that the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Armenia and officials from Strasbourg attended this ceremony gives it added political significance and increases the threat posed and the risk of disturbance.

      New occupation plans for Azerbaijan developed by Armenia, which was unequivocally named as an occupying state in Resolution 1416 (2005) adopted by the PACE, have been accompanied by an increasing number of violations of the cease-fire in the district of Gazakh, various forms of privation aimed at Nakhchivan, propaganda regarding Nakhchivan which is being conducted in the Republic of Armenia and the establishment of military structures.

      Taking all of the above-mentioned circumstances into consideration Rafael Huseynov asks the Committee of Ministers:

      - What urgent measures within its competence can the Committee of the Ministers take to stop Armenia, which does not observe the norms and principles of international law, from continuing its aggressive policy in disregard of the above-mentioned Resolution of the Council of Europe and taking real and dangerous steps towards the realisation of new territorial claims against Azerbaijan;

      - Why does the Committee of Ministers delay the expulsion of Armenia, which insists on continuing its non-constructive policy and is demonstrably violating the Statute and requirements of the Council of Europe, from the Organisation?

Signed 1:

1        SOC: Socialist Group
      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party
      ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
      EDG: European Democratic Group
      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left
      NR: not registered in a group