The Chief of Office participated in the High-Level Regional Dialogue on Human Rights 75- Europe and Central Asia held in Brussels

The Chief of Office, Aydin Safikhanli, participated in the high-level Regional Dialogue on Human Rights 75-Europe and Central Asia in the context of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment jointly organized by the UN OHCHR, UNEP, and Brussels Liaison Office, held in Brussels. 

A.Safikhanli during his speech pointed out that the preservation of ecological balance, the protection of the environment, and the sustainable use of natural resources have become particularly relevant in recent times, and states are implementing constant and urgent measures in this regard.

Stating armed conflicts, occupation, and ethnic cleansing policies as one of the main factors damaging the environment today in the world, the Chief of Office also noted that Azerbaijan suffers from the occupation, mine, and eco-terrorism policies pursued by Armenia against our country.

A. Safikhanli said that Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), which is located in Armenia, continues to operate and poses a potential threat to the entire region, and invited the relevant UN specialized institutions to increase attention to this issue and take measures to address the threat to a healthy environment and ensuring fundamental human rights.

He also added that despite the liberation of Azerbaijani territories from occupation, our country has not yet fully recovered from the negative effects of this occupation, and that the restoration of the completely destroyed infrastructure and ecosystem will take many years and significant financial resources.

Speaking about the mine terror perpetrated by Armenia against our country for many years, the Chief of Office brought to the attention of the participants that Armenia failed to provide our country with accurate maps of minefields and that this hinders the safe return of former internally displaced persons to their native lands, leads to numerous human casualties, and causes ecological problems. He also added that since the Patriotic War that resulted in the liberation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, 330 people have become victims of mine explosions so far. 

A.Safikhanli emphasized that the Ombudsman Institution of Azerbaijan constantly focuses on the protection of the right to live in a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, and it has carried out fact-finding missions to investigate the above-noted issues and prepared and submitted relevant reports, appeals, and statements to international organizations.

Aydin Safikhanlı calls on the international community to stand together and mutually cooperate for the elimination of factors that threaten the right to live in a clean environment.