Ali Hasanov lambasts EP ruling during French delegation visit

/By AzerNews/

By Laman Sadigova

Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister, the head of the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs, and the chairman of the Republican Commission for International Humanitarian Assistance, Ali Hasanov, met with a delegation headed by the Chairman of the France-Azerbaijan friendship group Andre Richard.

Hasanov informed the delegation about the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the situation of refugees and internally displaced persons in the country.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that as a result of Armenian aggression, its armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, 1,2 million Azerbaijanis became refugees and internally displaced persons, and the Azerbaijani national cultural wealth and infrastructure was destroyed in those areas.

Hasanov also noted that Armenia, ignoring international norms, continues its illegal activities in the occupied Azerbaijani territories.

The negotiation process, continuing with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group has not yielded any results. "This group was created so that the problem is not to be solved," he exclaimed.

He also called the recent resolution of the European Parliament biased and noted that the Parliament does not have the authority to adopt resolutions on Azerbaijan, stating, "This step is an open interference in the internal affairs of our country."

Andre Richard, in turn, said that the purpose of the visit is to strengthen bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and France in all spheres, including the economy and tourism. He recalled that as senator, he has met with refugees and internally displaced persons three times already, and will do it again.

Richard deplored the fact that 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory has been under occupation for many years. "Before talking about human rights, it is necessary to solve this problem. Unfortunately, the resolution adopted by the European Parliament says nothing about the situation’s salvation. It does not have to hide the main problem that the European countries have to solve. The first step is to liberate the occupied lands, and then talk about human rights. UN Security Council resolution on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be fulfilled", he stressed.

Deputy Chairman of the Friendship Group Nathalie Goulet said that the tragic consequences of these events are often forgotten.