| Subject: | Message on behalf of Head of FIU Azerbaijan, Mr. Rovshan Najaf |
|---|---|
| Date: | Fri, 09 Oct 2020 17:09:20 +0400 |
| From: | azefms-icd <azefms-icd@egmont.org> |
| To: | IMPA - Israel <impa@egmont.org> |
Message on behalf of Head of FIU Azerbaijan, Mr. Rovshan Najaf
to:
Dr. Shlomit Wagman
Head of FIU Israel
Dear Colleague,
As you know, the election of a candidate for the position of Europe II Regional Representative is expected to take place on October 13th, 2020. I have earlier expressed my concerns with the regard to the nominee’s objective attitude towards future issues related to FIU Azerbaijan.
By this letter, I would like to provide you with information on ongoing conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia and current situation in the internationally recognized occupied territories of Azerbaijan.
As it is known, Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict dates back to the late 1980s, with Armenia’s territorial claims against Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. In late 1991 and early 1992, armed hostilities against Azerbaijan intensified leading to a massive expulsion of the Azerbaijani population from Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.
As a result of this conflict, about one million Azerbaijanis became refugees or internally displaced persons, more than 20000 were killed, 50000 were wounded or disabled, and more than 4000 Azerbaijani citizens went missing. Since then, 20% of Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized territory including the Nagorno-Karabakh region, the seven adjacent districts and some enclaves remains under occupation. Moreover, following the invasion with aim to erase all traces of an Azerbaijani heritage in occupied territories, Armenia deliberately destroyed all Azerbaijani historical and religious monuments in the occupied territories.
It should be highly noted that 4 United Nations Security Council resolutions 822, 853, 874, 884 adopted in 1993 demand immediate, complete, and unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from Azerbaijan's occupied territories. However, for almost 30 years these binding U.N. Security Council resolutions remain unfulfilled by Armenia. Also, Armenia is not interested in any political settlement, or negotiation process. The constant provocations and escalations of the situation by Armenia has undermined the peace process.
Thus, in April 2016, Armenia launched a large-scale military attack against Azerbaijan. As a result of this attack, 6 Azerbaijani civilians, including one child, were killed, 26 civilians were wounded. On July 12th, 2020 Armenia perpetrated another provocation along the state border. Our military servicemen and a 76-year-old civilian were killed due to the artillery bombardment of Azerbaijan’s Tovuz district, while extensive damage was done to civilian infrastructure. On September 27, 2020 the armed forces of Armenia blatantly violating the ceasefire regime have launched another act of aggression against Azerbaijan, by intensively attacking the positions of the armed forces of Azerbaijan along the line of contact using large-caliber weapons, mortar launchers and artillery. As of October 8, 31 Azerbaijani civilians were killed, with 148 injured. Extensive damage has been inflicted on residential areas on the territory of Azerbaijan, leaving 900 houses, including civilian facilities destroyed.
In order to repel a new military aggression by Armenia and ensure the security of civilians and densely populated residential areas deep inside the internationally recognized territories of Azerbaijan, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan undertake counter-offensive measures within the right of self-defense and in full compliance with the international humanitarian law. Azerbaijan acts on its sovereign soil, and takes adequate and proportionate measures necessary to repulse the imminent threat to its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and security of its civilian population.
Please also be informed, that illegal presence of the armed forces of Armenia in the occupied lands of Azerbaijan constitutes a major threat to regional peace and security and serves as a main obstacle to implementation of the economic potential of the region.
Armenia continues to illegally exploit natural resources and use water reserves to create an artificial environmental crisis in the occupied territories. Armenia extracts gold and other precious metals and minerals of the occupied lands of Azerbaijan and exports to the international markets. It is a scheme of illegal business activities and money laundering
Considering the aforementioned and current state of war with Armenia, we strongly oppose to nomination of representative of FIU Armenia as a Regional Representative for Europe II. We also concerned that due to the conflict of interest the candidate presented by FIU Armenia will not be able to adequately and firmly represent our interests at Egmont Group.
We request you to treat our position with understanding, since current escalation of conflict directly affects stability and security in the region.
Sincerely yours,Rovshan Najaf
Head of FIU Azerbaijan