Yerevan /Mediamax/. Azerbaijan has responded to the letter of CoE Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic, which she addressed to the country’s President on April 20.

Foreign Policy | 2021-04-27 13:42:42

CoE Commissioner criticizes Azerbaijan for the ‘Trophy Park’

The 5-page response, signed by Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the Council of Europe Fakhraddin Ismayilov, is available on the CoE website.

In particular, the letter says that Mijatovic’s “regret” over the inauguration of the Military Trophy Park in Baku is “unsubstantiated”.

“The Trophy Park symbolizes the triumph of international law and justice over the decades-long policy of aggression and ethnic cleansing. The Park like its analogies in other corners of the world will serve as a stark reminder that racism, discrimination and intolerance have no chance to succeed. This is a place for education for the present and future generations on the dangers of policy of aggression and intolerance, and provides the venue for seeking the truth. “Dehumanizing scenes” or “disturbing and humiliating images” need to be looked for in other places across the Council of Europe area, where nations glorify their colonial past and demonstrate evidence of horrific crimes against the colonized peoples,” Ismayilov writes.

“The letter of 20 April 2021 casts doubt on independence and impartiality of the Commissioner’s work, and it might adversely impact on the relations between the Commissioner’s office and Azerbaijan. Moreover, the very fact of the letter being very far from an impartial appeal clearly runs against the stated noble goal of “promoting peace and reconciliation”. On the contrary, it emboldens revanchist circles. Azerbaijan strongly urges the Commissioner to remain impartial as requested by her mandate and refrain from actions and statements that negatively affect the authority and reputation of the Council of Europe,” concludes the letter.