The PACE resolution that was adopted yesterday includes the proposal of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia to create a demilitarized zone around the borders of Armenia, Armenian Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan informed.
In his words, the concept to create a demilitarized zone between Armenia and Azerbaijan is being actively disseminated in the international community as well. The proposal was presented to the PACE Special Rapporteur along with the relevant facts.
In particular, when the resolution on the humanitarian consequences of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was adopted in Strasbourg yesterday, where among other issues, the two countries are urged to start negotiations on delimitation and demarcation, and to study the issue of creating a demilitarized zone with the involvement of peacekeeping or military monitoring forces.
"Over the past year, my various meetings and discussions with the representatives of various international organizations had the aim of proving that the only effective way to prevent the criminal acts of the Azerbaijani servicemen is to establish a (demilitarized) security zone. The placement of armed Azerbaijani servicemen, including the placement of signs and flags in the immediate vicinity of Armenian villages and on the roads between the communities has no legal grounds; they should be removed and a (demilitarized) security zone should be created," Tatoyan said, adding the delimitation and demarcation of the border with Azerbaijan, without the creation of a security zone will not only fail to ensure the rights of the citizens of Armenia, specifically those of the border residents, but will cause further violations of rights and tensions.
"The activities and work on the concept of the security zone is near completion, where through thorough and extensive analysis, including through the use of a map, we have demonstrated its need for the protection of the rights of people," added Tatoyan.