“A Panel on Normalization Process of Nagorno-Karabakh: Legal and Political Assessments” organized by Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Graduate School of International Relations and Strategic Researches (ULİSA) was held on 20th of October 2021. The program was initiated with the opening speeches and continued with music recital. The opening speeches were delivered by Director of Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Graduate School of International Relations and Strategic Researches (ULİSA) Assoc. Dr. İbrahim Demir, AYBU Rector Prof. Dr. İbrahim Aydınlı, Head of Human Rights and Equality Institution of Turkey Prof. Dr. Muharrem Kılıç, Ombudsman of Azerbaijan Dr. Sabina Aliyeva and Ambassador of Republic of Azerbaijan in Turkey Reşad Memmedov. The program continued with music recital of Azerbaijani Performer Arzu Kurbani that defines the past and present of Nagorno-Karabakh. The conference was held under the moderatorship of Assoc. Dr. İbrahim Demir with the presentation of Zaur Velimehmetli from Ombudsman Institution of Azerbaijan, Prof. Dr. Yücel Acer from Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Faculty of Law, Kenan Aslanlı from Iran Research Centre and Prof. Dr. Toğrul İsmayıl from Kahramanmaraş University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences.
During his opening speech, Assoc. Dr. İbrahim Demir pointed out that the war of Nagorno-Karabakh brought many initials. He added that as a manifestation of the friendship between Turkey and Azerbaijan in a different dimension, the war showed that it is possible to win a victory in war with unmanned aerial vehicles is a first in the history, which may change the doctrines of war. He also pointed out that today is the time to gain a victory in the areas of law and diplomacy. He referred to the legal problems and human rights abuses as well-known from cluster bombs and thousands of civil killed during The Massacre of Khojaly. During his opening speech, Prof. Dr. İbrahim Aydınlı pointed out strong ties between two countries. Aydınlı, who referred to the restoration process of Nagorno-Karabakh after its independence, as the people of geography of The Turkish Nation, we all have an obligation to restructure the future of this territory. Prof. Dr. Muharrem Kılıç said that on behalf of Human Rights and Equality Institution of Turkey, they have prepared a report on the pursuit of human rights abuses against the civils in The War of Nagorno-Karabakh. He and added that as an institution they will continue to pursue the abuses in question. He pointed out the importance of the sustainability of the victory depends on the peace of the region. In his opening speech on human rights abuses that took place in the region Ombudsman Dr. Sabina Aliyeva mostly referred to land mines. He added that it is crucial problem that although the map of the some mines Armenia laid ın the region are available, the map of some of them does not exist. In his speech, Ambassador of Republic of Azerbaijan in Turkey Reşad Memmedov stated that although the war has come to an end, diplomatic fight is still in progress. He added that the destruction and devastation of The War of Nagorno-Karabakh will bring out material and nonmaterial punishments. Attaching importance to being strong in the prevention of the war, he pointed out the significance friendship between Turkey and Azerbaijan in this regard.
During the panel, Zaur Velimehmetli from Ombudsman Institution of Azerbaijan made assessments as to human rights abuses to the civils especially on ethnic cleansing and massacre as well as the mines of the region. International decisions taken on Nagorno-Karabakh and attempts with documents were also handled at the conference. Velimehmetli shared examples as to human rights abuses in Nagorno-Karabakh. During his speech, Faculty Member of Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Faculty of Law Prof. Dr. Yücel Acer initiated his speech by referring to the fact that Armenia’s occupation of the territory of Azerbaijan is illegal and pointed out that the system is not legal with the purpose of making an end to human rights abuses. He also stated that United Nations Security Council made the system an illegal one by serving the interests of some countries on the territory of Azerbaijan. Kenan Aslanlı from Iran Research Centre referred to the fact that The Victory of Nagorno-Karabakh is handled from different points of views on the international agenda and attached importance to the fact that there has been a chance in the balances in terms of economy, energy and transportation. Finally, Prof. Dr. Toğrul İsmayıl from Kahramanmaraş University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences referred to the structuring of 3+3 and said that Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia are already in a cooperation and there is a need to include Armenia, Russia and Iran to the system. He claimed that it is the way to structure the peace in the region.
