Panorama.am recently spoke to member of the British House of Lords, Baroness Caroline Cox, a prominent and experienced politician and diplomat, who has visited Artsakh over 60 times, including during the height of the war 20 years ago, and, together with international experts, has thoroughly studied the conflict and the situation in Artsakh.
Commenting on Azerbaijani propaganda which presents Azerbaijan as victim to Armenian aggression, Caroline Cox said, “First of all I would never say Armenians are aggressors, that is a lie — it was Azerbaijan that attempted ethnic cleansing of the Armenians from Nagorno Karabakh back in 1991 to 1992, it was Azerbaijan that unleashed ferocious military offensive against the civilians in Nagorno Karabakh – for instance, in the capital of Nagorno Karabakh, Stepanakert, we observed 400 grad missiles a day fired by the Azeris on civilians. It was Azerbaijan who committed war crimes and crimes against humanity by carrying out massacre of civilians in the village of Maraga.”
Asked whether she thinks that Nagorno Karabakh, because of continuous genocidal policies of Azerbaijan against Armenians, qualifies as an exceptional case in which international law grants the right to secession and independence — as was the case with Kosovo — Baroness Cox replied: “Yes, it does qualify as such. I believe that the Armenians of Karabakh can never again accept sovereignty by Azerbaijan because they have been subjected to attempted genocide and ethnic cleansing. There is much evidence on this.
“The then-President of Azerbaijan Elchibey explicitly declared, ‘If there is a single Armenian left in Karabakh, the people of Azerbaijan can hang me in the central square of Baku.’ This is a very clear and explicit policy of elimination of Armenians from Nagorno Karabakh – that amounts to ethnic cleansing and genocide.
“This was a war against civilians which was completely unacceptable in which many atrocities were carried out. My colleague and I made a publication back in the 1990’s giving a lot of evidence of Azerbaijani aggression against the Armenians in Karabakh in what we called ‘Ethnic Cleansing in Progress: War in Nagorno Karabakh.’ We were there as eyewitnesses many times in the war and I believe that Armenians in Karabakh have as much right for consideration of independence as the people of Kosovo.”
Commenting on the current negotiation process Baroness Cox highlighted the need for the people of Nagorno Karabakh to be involved in the process, as it is their future which is at stake. She also said that there would need to be very serious security guarantees for the Armenian side if a peace deal is concluded. Regarding the position of the parties Cox said “I think the Armenian position is a very reasonable one while it is Azerbaijan who refuses to cede. I wish Azerbaijan would undertake some confidence building measures instead of going on to escalate the hostile propaganda.”
“My heart is always with the Armenian people who have suffered too much and for too long. I have respect for the courage of your people and I say ‘thank you’ for you have become an example of freedom for the rest of the world against attempted ethnic cleansing,” added Baroness Cox in conclusion.
Such a courageous lady!
THANK YOU!
exactly, deserve freedom from genocidal azerbaijan
Truly an exceptionally brave and morally acute woman that has stood by the truth at all times.
Noble words from a noble Lady. We should be so thankful to the baronnes for her devotion to Artsakh and to Armenians peoples’s just cause. Over the years, I had the utmost respect to her and to her courage and devotion. With her most recent declaration above and her expose’ of Azerbanjans’ leaders shameful ideas, she stands in my mind, very tall, strong, magnificent lady, as depicted in above picture of hers; like a pillar herself in front of the British Parliament building. May God bless her and more strength to her.
Bah bah dear Baroness, you are an angel on earth, I vote for your Presidency of the whole safe world and wish you and ARTZAKH’ians a long happy life. Your brother, A.N.
What Armenia needs are fire and forget anti-tank missles such as the Spike antitank missles or the Japanese Type 01 LMAT which once fired don’t require an operator to keep the tank in it’s sights. Another missle like that would be the US Javalin but who knows if the US would sell it. I hope that these greedy politicians will relinquish some money to pay for effective upgrades. Even the Kornet missle would be a useful addition .These anti-tank missles are not that expensive compared to other missles.
Sadly Russia wants to cozy up to the Azeris so that they won’t join NATO and the Europeans want Azeri oil . It is a shame that they don’t explore for oil in the NKR.
It always amazes me when non armenians are more humane towards armenians than most armenian politicians. Has the Republic of Armenia recognized artsakh?
Serzh the prez instead congratulates Erdogan, who commented on how insulting it is to be called an Armenian.
There is huge reserves of minerals and….oil too in Artsakh. Artsakh is rich and blessed with a fertile ground. It is a hidden treasure, blessed by nature. The time is not ripe yet for its development. There has to be another flare up, a definitive and conclusive one where a border can ultimately be configured. These talks about more talks and ongoing talks it is futile and banal. It keeps the politicians busy and a pretense of doing something worthy. Alyev can sustain himself in power with pompous and bombastic utterances. But he is harmless as a cockorach drowning in water. He is good for Armenia to stay in power. Obviously if we had a modern day Elchibey in Azeriland that would even be better ; the modern day Elchibey would lose whatever is left of Azeriland Elchibey was pure brawn but brainless; thanks to his foibles he paid a price. The turks will not voluntarily accept Armenian suzeraignty over occupied territories We have to recognized the status quo as a quasi permanent solution and get used to accept it a de facto solution; until the next flare up.
UK and Armenians…. Updating the old, good friendship ? 🙂 How Armenians, who forget nothing, can forget that UK as Russia have abondonned armenians rebels, who were supposed to be their ally, to the hands of ottomans. Such politically motivated speches are the sign that this great politicians will repeat the history if the opportunity is presented to them. Armenia deserve nothing more than becoming an oblast of Russia and Artsak is and will be nothing more than a canabis plantation for Europe if statu quo persists.
Why do you disrespect a complete human race?
I wonder why do you think that way?
A canabis plantation for Europe? You give yourself the right to degrade an ancient land that had so much history in it?
Why don’t you pick the land you came from instead for canabis plantation?
“Armenia deserves nothing but to be an oblast of Russia…” You say. Really? Armenia was a kingdom when you were not even breathing. An Oblast?
Your reasoning is like a psycho dictator and a Hitler.
We are so lucky to have such an honourable lady defending Armenian interest.
I pity you Nikolas for your ignorance and uneducated comments.