The July 19 issue of "The Saturday Telegraph," of London–featured an article entitled "Babies Targeted in Dirty War of Azerbaijan." The article summarized the findings of a report released that day by Physicians for Human Rights (UK)–a voluntery group founded in 1989–which interviewed about 67 Armenia’s during the height of the 1988-94 war for the national liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh. The report’s release and article’s publication coincided with Azeri President Haydar Aliyev’s visit to Britain.
"Children as young as one year old were taken hostage and tortured by civilians in Azerbaijan as part of an institutionalized campaign against ethnic Armenia’s," reported Judith Whelan based on the Birtish doctors’ report. "The report alleges that ethnic Armenia’s were murdered by Azeri authorities," she clearly stated.
Among those intereviewed–the article’s author explained–were soldiers who were taken prisoner following the 1994 cease-fire–and civilians arrested without charge and "tortured in an attempt to have them confess to crimes they did not commit."
It was reported that "all but one had been beaten–many severely and repeatedly during periods in captivity that lasted from two weeks to five years. More than a quarter had suffered some sort of sexual violence. Many were burnt with cigaretts–had gold teeth pulled out without anasthetic–had their fingernails pulled out or were given electric shocks."
Among gruesome events included in the physicians’ report–"The Saturday Telegraph" highlighted the following: "Some were doused in lighter fluid and threatened with matches. One man was subjected to a mock execution–another was forced to walk through a minefield. Some were forced to watch other prisoners being beaten and raped. Eight said they had seen people deliberately killed by their guards."
The author also quoted the US State Department statistic of 780,000 people in Azerbaijan–both Azeri and Armenian–currently displaced and unable to return home.
In addition to the signing of major commercial contracts–"The Saturday Telegraph" reporter also anticipated that human rights issues would be addressed in July 21 meetings between Aliyev and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
It is unclear whether Armenian babies targeted in the dirty war crimes of Azerbaijan were ever discussed during Aliyev’s official visit. However–it is definite that oil deals worth millions of pounds were not only discussed–but also finalized.