A million Azerbaijanis devastated by the Armenian war: Azerbaijan president

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The 30-year long occupation of Armenia had devastated the lives of more than a million Azerbaijanis and the destruction of its cities and villages, said Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan. “The Armenians had destroyed everything” in the occupied territories, “all of its cities, villages, historical and religious places, mosques and cemeteries,” said Aliyev.

During a meeting with the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Yousef Bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen, Aliyev said the 44 days of war put an end to the occupation of Azerbaijan’s lands which lasted for 30 years. There was a deliberate policy f Azerbaijan. “The Armenians had destroyed everything” in the occupied territories, “all of its cities, villages, historical and religious places, mosques and cemeteries,” said Aliyev.

During a meeting with the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Yousef Bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen, Aliyev said the 44 days of war put an end to the occupation of Azerbaijan’s lands which lasted for 30 years.

There was a deliberate policy to erase all of the Azerbaijani and Islamic heritages, but the time has come to restore it. Reconstruction, however, will take time, Aliyev told Al-Othaimeen, pointing to the large number of landmines planted by Armenian troops in the occupied lands. “Armenia did not give us a map of minefields,” Aliyev said, adding, “We already had dozens of casualties.”

The behaviour constitutes another war crime, “but we will do what is needed, and the demining process is underway.” He also called on Islamic nations to visit and witness the damages done to the “historical heritage” and reconstruction process. Al-Othaimeen expressed his happiness for ending the war and said, “It is not a victory for you, it is a victory for us. And we are so happy for this.” He also pledged the full backing of OIC in the reconstruction process.

Separately, Al-Othaimeen held talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov. Present were permanent representatives of the countries of the OIC Contact Group. The minister told the meeting that the mines planted by Armenia pose a grave threat to human life.

He added: “The fact that Armenia does not want to provide Azerbaijan with maps of minefields is tantamount to a war crime.” President Ilham Aliyev presented the “Dostlug” Order to Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen for his contributions to strengthening friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and OIC.