Doc. 9489

14 June 2002

Network of terrorist organisations supported by Armenia on the occupied territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Motion for recommendation

presented by Mr Rafael Huseynov and others

The 20 per cent of territory in the Republic of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenia, where the norms of international law are no longer respected, have become isolated from the European continent and represent a serious zone of insecurity for the world community.

The financial sources of the terrorist groups that are located on the occupied territories are the sale of drugs, nuclear projects as well as arms trafficking. The report of the US State Department of March 2000 about the creation of the necessary conditions for the cultivation and production of narcotics in the Nagorno-Karabakh region as well as the adoption of the decision in May 2002 by the US State Department on the application of sanctions against Armenian organisations that are engaged in the implementation of illegal nuclear projects in the occupied territories very much proves the need to pay particular attention to the terrorist network that manages these criminal activities under the protection of the Armenian government.

The non-control of the occupied territories creates fertile ground not only for "Asala" and "Haydud" – Armenian terrorist organisations – but also encourages foreign terrorist organisations that have the facilities to set up training camps and carry out the relevant activities.

In the occupied Kaljabar district the Lebanese "Organisation of returning heroes" (leader: O. Ter-Grigorian – Armenian of Beirut origin), in the Lachin district the Kurdish PKK organisation (leader: J. Shamoyan) and the "Knights of Vartan" terrorist organisation (leader: A. Babachanyan), in the Zangelan district the military wing "Ziyeddin Al–Gissan" of the Lebanese group "Hamas", in Khankendi the Greek "Organisation of national revival" terrorist group (leader: E. Galustyan) are all very active in their actions.

The awarding of the title of national hero of the Karabakh war by the Armenian President to international terrorists such as US citizen Monte Melkonyan, Iranian citizen Vazgen Sisliyan and Syrian citizen Varujan Garbijyan famous for their terrorist acts in the 1970-80's in France, and taking them under the protection of the government provides irrefutable proof of the support for terrorism at state level in Armenia.

Stressing that the "lawless area" in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan presents a danger for the whole of Europe, the Assembly calls on member states to increase their efforts to find a solution to the problem.

The Assembly underlines the urgent need to set up a monitoring group in order to examine thoroughly the current situation in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven adjacent districts of Azerbaijan.

The Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers take the necessary steps so that Armenia, which uses the occupied international non-control zone to set up terrorist groups and networks, cultivate and transit narcotics, implement secret nuclear projects, immediately stops its activities which are contrary to the norms of international law and the Statute of the Council of Europe.

Signed¹:

Huseynov R., Azerbaijan, LDR

Abbasov, Azerbaijan, EDG

Akçali, Turkey, EDG

Akgönenç, Turkey, EDG

Aliyev B., Azerbaijan, SOC

Aliyev I., Azerbaijan, EDG

Andican, Turkey, EDG

Billing, Sweden, EPP

Calner, Sweden, SOC

Cerrahoğlu, Turkey, EDG

Clerfayt, Belgium, LDR

Frey, Switzerland, LDR

Gligoroski, "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", EPP

Goulet, France, EDG

Gürkan, Turkey, SOC

Haupert, Luxembourg, EPP

Huseynov A., Azerbaijan, EDG

Ibrahimov, Azerbaijan, LDR

Kroupa, Czech Republic, EPP

Shakhtakhtinskaya, Azerbaijan, EDG

Vakilov, Azerbaijan, EDG

Vanoost, Belgium, SOC

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group