In a letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the President of the Republic of Armenia Armen Vardanovich Sargsyan, the International Society for Human Rights (IGFM) has expressed its concern about the renewed military confrontation between the two countries.

To the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan His Excellency Ilham Aliyev The Republic of Azerbaijan, City of Baku, AZ1066 Istiglaliyyat Street, 19, “Presidential Palace” To the President and Deputies of the Republic of Azerbaijan To the Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan To the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Azerbaijan

To the President of the Republic of Armenia His Excellency Armen Vardanovich Sargsyan Republic of Armenia City of Erivan, 0024 Marshal Baghramyan Avenue, 26 To the President and Deputies of the Republic of Armenia To the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia To the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Armenia

Appeal to the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan

Dear Sirs!

The International Society for Human Rights, an international human rights organisation with fifty years of experience in international work, with ECOSOC status at the United Nations and observer status at the Council of Europe, and with national sections in 43 states of the world, including the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, is following with pain and concern the development of a military confrontation between your republics.

Worldwide practice is convincing proof that no military campaign leads to sustainable peace. Only negotiations, only a reasonable compromise, based on respect for human rights, can achieve the required result and lay the foundations for a long-term fruitful cooperation between your states.

The International Society for Human Rights calls on you to immediately cease all military operations, to form a multilateral, authoritative commission involving international representatives and representatives of civil society, and to start negotiations. For its part, the International Society for Human Rights is ready to provide comprehensive assistance in the formation of such a commission and to send its representatives who are citizens of neutral states to the commission.

The protection of the civilian population is now a top priority. As long as the war continues, a humanitarian corridor must be established for the withdrawal of the civilian population, especially children, women and the elderly, from the zone of active military confrontation.

The International Society for Human Rights is ready to send its observers to the area of the humanitarian corridor to independently monitor human rights and the rights of combatants.

With sincere respect and hope.

 

This appeal was signed in agreement with the Executive Committee and the heads of the national sections of the International Society for Human Rights.

Prof. Schirrmacher
President of the International Council of the ISHR

Karl Hafen
Board member of the International Council of the ISHR

 

Frankfurt am Main, Germany

More Information about the Skirmishes in Armenia and Azerbaijan