Dutch and Belgian Resolutions on Armenian Prisoners in Azerbaijan Trigger Outrage in Baku

“These documents, which distort the history and results of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia and stem from the unhealthy and racist imagination of traditional anti-Azerbaijani and Islamophobic circles, constitute a gross violation of international law and the rule of law, as well as a provocation against the ongoing and important peace process in the region,” the parliament said.

Noting that the Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentary speakers had recently met in Istanbul, the Azerbaijani Parliament said the Dutch and Belgian resolutions “clearly demonstrate that the “initiators” of these documents are far removed from the real state of affairs in the region.”

“Their true intention is not to promote peace and dialogue, but to incite hostility and revenge.”

Furthermore, the Azerbaijani Parliament said the Armenian prisoners in question had committed “war crimes and crimes against humanity” and that their crimes had been proven in a “transparent and open trial.”

The Azerbaijani Parliament demanded that the Belgian and Dutch parliaments “end the hate campaign against Azerbaijan and steps that undermine efforts to strengthen peace in the region.”

The Azerbaijani pro-government media Caliber cited political analyst Ilgar Velizade as saying these resolutions would not bear fruit.

“In the end, all of them remained without practical implementation, but they continue to stir certain circles and stimulate new anti-Azerbaijani campaigns,” Velizade said.

(This article originally appeared on www.oc-media.org on April 21.)