By: Fikir Gilitsi, Political Analyst
Addis Ababa( Ethiopia Today) April 23,2023.
After the 44-days war that saw Karabakh reclaimed by Azerbaijanis, its rightful owners, Azerbaijan and Armenia were supposed to draw prospects through negotiation process as per the trilateral statement of 9/10 November 2020 and other components of normalization process.
While Azerbaijan is doing everything at its disposal, Armenia kept on proving that they’re not yet ready to comply with their obligations as per the said statement. Azerbaijan, because it strongly believes and respects international law and it wishes for the Caucasus region no more skirmish, but peace and embellishment of common development agenda. That’s why it is playing a vital role in realizing the trilateral statement in spite of its total victory. However, in addition to the continuation of occupation of 8 Azerbaijani villages, Armenia kept on committing military and political provocations.
Recently, Armenian forces killed three of Azerbaijani soldiers in Lachin district of Azerbaijan and staged armed provocation at the undelimited border between two countries. Furthermore, they detained two Azerbaijani soldiers who went missing due to bad weather conditions and limited vision as a result. Photos and videos circulated by Armenian media show that tortures and other inhuman actions against these soldiers have been committed in blatant violation of international laws.
In addition, on the European Weightlifting Championship, a very prestigious sports event being held in Yerevan with more than 350 weightlifters from 40 countries participating, Azerbaijani flag was burnt at the official opening ceremony on April 14, 2023 by Aram Nicolyan, a journalist of public television and well-known designer who was one of the organizers by designing shirts for flag holders. While disrespecting a state symbol of a foreign nation is illegal by Armenian legislation, Aram Nicolyan, was initially taken by police but, sadly, was released immediately and even celebrated by the majority or Armenians in the sporting venue including members of parliament. He later said his intention was to ensure that Azerbaijani flag does not fly in Yerevan. “If there’re people who believe I should not have done that, let them hang the [Azerbaijani] flag in their homes.”
Following this act of vandalism, Azerbaijani team comprising of four athletes and support staff with federation officials left Yerevan, a host city that failed to demonstrate either ability, interest or both to hold international sports competitions and ensure safety of athletes. As a result, Azerbaijan may lose chance of qualifying for the Olympic Games in Paris. Some experts at EWF are advocating the country should be allowed to demonstrate what it’s got at Africa’s continental Championship in Tunis, Tunisia.
The EWF condemned the action saying this is an attack on the integrity of sports values but the fact that the vandalism was committed on this prestigious event, with the presence of Prime Minister of Armenia and the perpetrator received a heroic applause, demonstrates the amount of hatred and Azerbaijanophobia in the country as a result of a widely propagated policy.
Editor’s note: The article reflects the author’s opinion only.
