The Heads of the Milli Majlis Working Groups for Inter-Parliamentary Relations and the Leaders of Azerbaijan's Delegations to international parliamentary organisations have addressed their colleagues in international parliamentary organisations and the parliaments of foreign states in connection with the 27^th of September – the Memorial Day.

The address states that 20 per cent of the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan was occupied and acts of ethnic cleansing and genocide were perpetrated against the Azerbaijanis consequent to the aggressive policy of the Republic of Armenia in the early 1990s.

It is recalled in the document that on 27 September 2020 and following another broad-scale offensive of the Armed Forces of Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan utilised her right of self-defence as granted by the UN Charter and initiated a counter-offensive operation with the purpose of compelling the aggressor to peace and terminating the occupation of the Azerbaijani lands. The 30-year-long occupation by Armenia of the internationally recognised territories of our country was ended and restoration of the territorial integrity of our state was ensured in the course of 44 days’ military operations under the leadership of President of Azerbaijan, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev.

The address also speaks of the war crimes and crimes against humanity that the Armed Forces of Armenia committed during the hostilities. It is emphasised particularly that, despite the bloody attacks and acts of brutality committed by the Armed Forces of Armenia, the Army of Azerbaijan adhered to the norms of international humanitarian law scrupulously targeting exclusively armed forces and military installations of the adversary whilst disallowing harm to be caused to civilians and populated areas.

It is mentioned in the document also that the activity of the Armenia-incepted criminal junta regime was discontinued and the sovereignty of Azerbaijan was restored in entirety over all of her territory as a result of the anti-terrorist operation carried out on 19-20 September 2023. It is noted that the former internally displaced people are returning to their native lands currently as settlements are built and restored in the de-occupied provinces. At the same time, the damage caused by the hundreds of thousands of mines planted by Armenia in the Azerbaijani territories is mentioned with regret.

It is emphasised that, despite all of the above, it was precisely Azerbaijan which presented the 5 basic principles of normalisation of relations with Armenia and has been making serious efforts these past 5 years to realise the peace agenda as well as that the draft Peace Treaty has been developed by the Azerbaijani side in particular. It is reminded in this regard that the negotiations of the President of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia in Washington in early August this year on the invitation of President of USA Donald Trump, and the initialling of the draft ‘Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia’ have created conditions favourable to the final settlement of the conflict.

It is stressed, at the same time, that pursuant to the agreements reached the ‘Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity’, which is to be implemented, will become an important transport link connecting continents. A confidence is expressed as to the eventual signing of the final Peace Treaty will establish a firm and lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia and in so doing will open new horizons embodying stability and co-operation for the whole region of the South Caucasus.

The Press and Public Relations Department
The Milli Majlis