The Milli Mejlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan categorically protests against the resolution levelled at our country which the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Netherlands adopted on 23 May 2024, and condemns that move as a racist, Azerbaijanophobic, Turkophobic and Islamophobic political act. The claims made against our country in the resolution are partly based on distorted facts and partly on lies and fabricated information.

The Parliament of the Netherlands has repeatedly demonstrated a biased position with regards to Azerbaijan, having passed various resolutions since the conclusion of the 44 days’ Patriotic War under the guidance of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Republic Ilham Aliyev, the conclusion which had culminated in the liberation of the Azerbaijani territory from the occupation by Armenia and the restoration of the standards and principles of international law in autumn 2020. The emergence of such a document in the Parliament of the Netherlands now that peace negotiations with Armenia are afoot and definitely encouraging results are being achieved to this end comes as a vivid example of political recklessness and irresponsibility. It is regrettable that Members of the Parliament of the Netherlands had never once raised their voices during those 30 years for which Azerbaijani lands had remained occupied and 1 million Azerbaijanis had become refugees and IDP. During that time, the Netherlands’ MPs tended to support the occupiers either openly or covertly, and today they are inclined to endorse actions that undermine the process of normalization between two states that have been in conflict for many years and to incite revanchism.

It should be mentioned that it is one of the international obligations of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as well as other states, to respect the territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan, whereas such actions contradict the interests not only of the South Caucasus but also of the whole of Europe in ensuring peace, stability, and sustainable development.

The inadequate views that Minister of Foreign Affairs Hanke Bruins Slot offered in response to a parliamentary inquiry during the deliberations upon the aforementioned resolution in the House of Representatives of the Netherlands Parliament as well as her earlier unfounded accusations against Azerbaijan indicate that the executive authorities of this country justify the provocative, essentially, activities of parliamentarians and effectively encourage such actions. All that spikes tensions in the South Caucasus and seriously obstructs the implementation of the peace programme.

The Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan calls on the House of Representatives of the Netherlands Parliament and senior officials of this country to refrain from illegal attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan and abandon the intention to revive an already settled regional conflict, but, instead, take steps to establish long-term peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.