Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh appeals to international community

The Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh issued a statement on September 21, the International day of peace.

Report says the statement reads:

Today marks the International Day of Peace, established by the United Nations in 1981 to strengthen the ideals of peace and unity worldwide. However, instead of supporting these values amid rising global turbulence due to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, we witness a deficit in the world peace and unity, which endanger our globe's already weakened security.

Despite the appeal by the UN Secretary-General for a global cease-fire, urging warring parties across the world to lay down their weapons in support of the more significant battle against COVID-19, Armenia ignored this appeal to realize its vicious plans of occupation. 

Amid the pandemic, on July 12, 2020, Armenia launched an attack to capture new Azerbaijani territories through which critical lifelines are passing. It is the continuation of Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan, which has been going on for three decades. As a result of this aggression, one-fifth of Azerbaijani territories remain under Armenian occupation, making impossible the return of nearly a million expelled Azerbaijanis back to their homes.

To consolidate the occupation's consequences, Armenia has been building illegal settlements in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. It has even misused the recent horrific explosion in Port of Beirut as an opportunity to move more Armenians to the occupied Azerbaijani territories, which is a violation of the international humanitarian law and a war crime.

While genuinely believing in the possibility of establishing peace, we call on the international community to urge Armenia to withdraw its occupying Armed Forces and allow us to return to our homes and lands. It would be in line with the International Peace Day spirit that we sadly "celebrate" without peace.