WCC calls on Azerbaijan to release Armenian POWs

ArmInfo. The 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches sent an appeal to the United Nations, the European Union and the authorities of Azerbaijan calling  for the immediate release of all Armenian civilian hostages and  prisoners of war, based on international legal obligations, Asbarez  reports. 

In a statement entitled "Consequences of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh  war," the WCC Assembly also reiterated its condemnation of the use of  chemical weapons and cluster munitions, the targeting of civilians,  hospitals and public infrastructure, and all other war crimes,  beheadings, torture and other atrocities witnessed during the  conflict.

Below is the text of the statement/resolution.

Following six weeks of intense fighting for Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh,  in late 2020, the WCC executive committee adopted a statement praying  for wisdom, unity and calm, and grieving "with all those who have  suffered terrible losses not only in the renewed fighting since 27  September, but throughout the long history of the struggle for  self-determination in the region, entrenching antagonism more deeply  with each precious life lost." The WCC condemned the use of chemical  weapons and cluster munitions, the targeting of civilians, hospitals  and public infrastructure, and all other war crimes, beheadings,  torture and other atrocities witnessed during the conflict. The WCC  also appealed for respect for the holy sites and cultural heritage of  Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh, in light of numerous reports of the  desecration of such sites.

Almost two years after the end of the armed conflict in  Nagorno-Karabakh, hundreds of ethnic Armenians are still illegally  held by Azerbaijan, in violation of the Geneva Convention relative to  the Treatment of Prisoners of War. While the world's attention is  fixed on the conflict in Ukraine, Azerbaijani forces are reported to  have launched new assaults on indigenous Armenians of  Nagorno-Karabakh as well as on the sovereign borders of the Republic  of Armenia, with further loss of innocent lives and more prisoners  taken. 

Moreover, accountability for war crimes and other violations of  international humanitarian and human rights law - repeatedly reported  by Human Rights Watch, BBC, the Guardian and many other international  media outlets - has not been achieved or pursued.

The 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC), meeting in  Karlsruhe, Germany,

Appeals to the United Nations, the European Union and the authorities  of Azerbaijan for the immediate release of all Armenian civilian  hostages and POWs in accordance with international law.  Reiterates  concern for holy sites and Armenian cultural heritage in the region,  and urges UNESCO and all members of the international community to  take all possible and appropriate measures to protect these sites.

Calls for the start of meaningful dialogue for a just and peaceful  settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the framework of the  Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk  Group.

Requests the WCC and all member churches to remain engaged in  Christian solidarity with the churches and people of Armenia and  Nagorno-Karabakh in their search for a just and sustainable peace.