Baku—The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly criticized recent resolutions passed by the Dutch Parliament, urging the Netherlands to reconsider its stance which Azerbaijan views as contrary to regional peace efforts.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the Commentary issued by MFA Spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada condemned the Dutch House of Representatives for adopting two anti-Azerbaijani resolutions on October 10. The spokesperson also disapproved of Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp’s support for these resolutions, which include calls for the release of individuals Azerbaijan has arrested, labeling them as ‘prisoners of war.’ “We strongly reject yet another two anti-Azerbaijani resolutions adopted by the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Expression of support by Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp during his speech in support of these biased resolutions, and calls for the release of the representatives of the former separatist regime and terrorists arrested by Azerbaijan identifying them as the ‘prisoners of war’ are unacceptable,” Hajizada stated.
The MFA’s statement further criticized the Dutch position for overlooking past military occupations and alleged ethnic cleansings by Armenia against Azerbaijan, as well as ongoing territorial claims. It accused the Dutch of ignoring war crimes committed against Azerbaijan’s cultural and religious heritage, and of adhering to double standards by distorting Azerbaijan’s anti-terror measures as aggressive actions.
The commentary reiterated Azerbaijan’s legal rights and obligations under international law, including the 1949 Geneva Conventions, to prosecute those it accuses of separatism and terrorism. “The persons mentioned in the claims of the Dutch side as ‘prisoners of war’ are people accused of separatism, committing premeditated murder, torture, terror acts, and other crimes against humanity on the territory of Azerbaijan. Of course, Azerbaijan has both the right and the international obligation to bring these individuals to justice,” the statement added.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry called on the Netherlands to abandon what it sees as a unilateral and provocative stance that hampers peace in the region and strains bilateral relations.