Expert: Melanie Joly’s statements about alleged humanitarian crisis in region serve certain political purposes

Statements by Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly about the alleged existence of a ‘humanitarian crisis’ in the South Caucasus is inappropriate and untrue, and have certain political agenda, Pakistani expert, executive director of the Center for South Asia and International Studies (CSAIS) Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan told Report.

The biased position of the Canadian minister only demonstrates the lack of knowledge of the situation in the region and is completely unfounded, he noted.

“It is indeed another vivid reflection of double standard of the west tilting their support towards Armenia despite its shameful deeds in the past against helpless and peaceful people of Azerbaijan living in Karabakh for centuries.

Canada has never demonstrated open support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan or showed any interest in the situation of the IDPs from formerly occupied territories of Azerbaijan and of those who were forcefully deported from Armenia, it is an indication of the overt bias of Canada against Azerbaijan and people living in Karabakh region,” the expert added.

The expert reminded that during a recent meeting in Yerevan, the foreign ministers of Canada and Armenia, instead of calling for intensification of the peace process in the South Caucasus, made false anti-Azerbaijani statements.

“Evidently, Azerbaijan has been the main initiator of peace negotiations, peace treaty, opening of communications, as well as demarcation despite the blows of Armenia to the peace process for almost 30 years. On the other hand, Armenia did not allow the successful outcome of the negotiations on the peace treaty and is now hindering the process with a number of provocative actions.”