THIS is with reference to the report ‘120,000 ethnic Armenians start leaving Nagorno-Karabakh’ (Sept 25). Armenian media groups and Western media are busy spreading the rumours that there is some sort of ethnic cleansing being feared by ethnic Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. These are mere attempts to disrupt the process of peaceful reintegration of the region.

Following the ceasefire agreement, Azerbaijan established a working group to address social, humanitarian, economic and infrastructure issues. The group operates as part of centralised efforts to address such issues in the liberated territories. There is a need to support the ongoing process of demilitarisation in the region.

Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Emergency has been sending trucks loaded with tonnes of food and sanitary products to Armenian residents, and international humanitarian aid and assistance have been allowed and facilitated.

Azerbaijan is actively working to bring comfort, peace and stability to the region, and one hopes that even Armenian residents in the region will contribute to the development of such areas, which would further facilitate peaceful reintegration.

Azerbaijan seems committed to upholding the rule of law, as it is seen protecting rights and freedoms, maintaining stability, ensuring public safety, and preventing all illegal actions, including the destruction of property and documents.

Azerbaijani authorities are likely to persist in their efforts to advance post-conflict peacebuilding, promote reintegration, and facilitate peaceful coexistence to achieve lasting peace and prosperity for everyone in the region.

Khalid Taimur Akram
Executive Director,
Pakistan Research Centre for a Community with Shared Future
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2023