British MPs issue joint statement on Khojaly genocide

Twelve members of the British Parliament have issued a joint statement on the 30th anniversary of the Khojaly tragedy, Report informs, citing the Azerbaijani Embassy in the UK.

In the statement, the parliamentarians expressed their condolences to the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the massacre, especially those who lost their loved ones as a result of the tragedy and expressed solidarity with the people of Azerbaijan.

The Khojaly massacre, characterized by the largest civilian casualties during the war, was described by parliamentarians as one of the most tragic pages in the recent history of Azerbaijan. The parliamentarians also recalled the decision of the European Court of Human Rights from April 22, 2010, which characterized the events in Khojaly as a war crime and a crime against humanity. In this context, the need to strengthen international humanitarian law in order to prevent such tragedies in the future was stressed.

The British parliamentarians also welcomed the end of the conflict and expressed the hope that the talks with the participation of all stakeholders in the region will lead to the full normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

At the same time, the statement noted that there are a number of challenges in the post-conflict phase, including demining, restoration of communication and transport links, delimitation, and demarcation of borders. The UK government has been called upon to address these challenges, particularly in the area of demining.

The joint statement is the first joint initiative adopted by British parliamentarians on the Khojaly tragedy. Members of the House of Commons Bob Blackman, Bob Seeley, Matthew Offord, Dan Poulter, as well as members of the House of Lords Lord Risby, Lord Sheikh, Baron Kilclooney, Lord Hussain, Lord Evans, Zahida Manzoor, and Howard Flight joined the initiative. Earlier, in 2017, a legislative initiative on the Khojaly tragedy in the Scottish regional parliament was supported by a majority of members of the regional parliament.

The 30th anniversary of the Khojaly tragedy was also discussed at the meeting of the Azerbaijani Group of the British Parliament on February 22. The parliamentarians, who attended the meeting, once again expressed solidarity with the Azerbaijani people over the Khojaly massacre.