Baku, February 25, 2025 – The Europe Today: The Western Azerbaijan Community issued a statement condemning remarks made by Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan during his speech at the High-Level Segment of the 58th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on February 24, 2025. The Community claimed that his statements condone a group of war criminals currently on trial in Azerbaijan, undermine the concept of human rights, and hinder peace efforts in the region.
According to the statement, the Armenian Foreign Minister’s comments seek to undermine the ongoing judicial process regarding those responsible for the Khojaly genocide, an atrocity carried out by Armenia in February 1992. “Minister Mirzoyan’s attempt to undermine the judicial process concerning those held responsible for committing the Khojaly genocide—carried out by his country on February 25-26, 1992—on the anniversary of this genocide is an act of disrespect to the memory of its victims,” the Community emphasized.
Mirzoyan’s remarks on the issue of Armenians who voluntarily left Azerbaijan were also criticized, with the statement calling it a hypocritical attempt to involve UN human rights mechanisms. “The primary responsibility of Armenia in the field of human rights is to create conditions for the peaceful, safe, and dignified return of Azerbaijanis who were forcibly expelled from Armenia,” the statement noted.
The Western Azerbaijan Community also reminded the Armenian government of its actions following the signing of the 1991 Almaty Declaration. “After signing this declaration, Armenia expanded its attacks against Azerbaijan, occupying 20% of the country’s territory and subjecting nearly 800,000 Azerbaijanis to ethnic cleansing,” the statement read. The Community further stressed that peace cannot be achieved by merely referring to historical documents but requires concrete actions.
The statement also condemned Armenia’s rapid militarization and failure to ensure unimpeded transit, actions that it argued do not contribute to regional peace. “All these facts once again prove that the Armenian government is not interested in establishing peace and respecting human rights,” the Community asserted.
In conclusion, the Western Azerbaijan Community called for an end to Armenia’s “non-constructive policies” and urged the Armenian government to take concrete steps to facilitate the safe and dignified return of expelled Azerbaijanis to their homes in Armenia, signaling the need for a real commitment to peace and stability in the region.
