Baroness Caroline Cox, a member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom, sent an open letter to the Azerbaijani authorities and the diplomatic corps. Responding to the anti-Armenian initiatives of Azerbaijani Ambassador to the United Kingdom Tahir Taghizadeh, the Baroness referred to the history of Artsakh, noting that under Stalin, Artsakh, 95% inhabited by Armenians, was handed over to Azerbaijan, which appropriated Armenian territory by cutting it off from Armenia.
- Warm greetings from Armenia, Baroness.
- Hello
- You were one of the few politicians who spoke about the July events on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. You wrote a letter to the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, Dominic Raab. What answer did you get?
- The answer was official. I am the Vice-Chair of the Armenian-British Friendship Group in the British Parliament, the Chairman is very impartial, he worked very well in those days and discussed the issue with the Foreign Ministry, and, of course, there was concern and support in the letter. But now there is a need for new actions.
- Do you think that the Azerbaijani lobby influenced that answer? There is information that the Ambassador of Azerbaijan in London took continuous steps to show the parliamentarians that the statements you made were not impartial. Do you think oil, trade, economic ties could have influenced the Foreign Minister's not very clear response?
I think the problem is that Azerbaijan has a very powerful propaganda machine, and that propaganda is very distorted. I was annoyed by their wording. The Azerbaijanis distorted history, they are presenting a false history of Artsakh. I received a very positive response to my letter because I presented the story and described the current situation. Many people who support Armenia do not know the real facts, do not know what propaganda Azerbaijan is carrying out.
That is why one of the purposes of my letter was to make the facts available to everyone, so that when they hear what Azerbaijan has presented, they will know the truth, not what Azerbaijan is preaching. I hope it will be especially useful for Armenian supporters who do not know how to respond to Azerbaijani accusations. This letter, which is supported by the parliamentary group, should show your international supporters the real story, the one that has not been subjected to Azerbaijani falsification.
- What do you think the UK-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group should do? What is your vision for cooperation? What is your agenda?
- The most important thing is to make the truth available. Everyone should know the description of Azerbaijan's actions, many are unaware. For example, the murder of an Armenian officer while sleeping, for which the Azerbaijani was glorified and became a national hero. But he was supposed to go to prison, which did not happen. It is necessary to tell about the atrocities committed against Armenians during the recent events, it should be said that the protesters were shouting "Death to the Armenians" in Baku, that the government of that country was threatening to hit the Metsamor nuclear power plant. This is an absolutely unacceptable and very disturbing policy. I think the international community should be aware of this background in order not to submit to the powerful propaganda regime of Azerbaijan. The more people know the truth, the easier it will be to resist Azerbaijan. I hope I will be able to inform the supporters of Armenia that they will counteract the Azerbaijani misinformation. Truth and justice are on Armenia's side, they should know about it. I modestly suggest that your supporters join forces.
- Apart from your political friendship with Armenia, you have also been by the side of the people of Armenia and Artsakh since the 90s. You have been with the people of Artsakh during their struggle for life and and you are the godmother of many children. Do you keep in touch with them?
- Yes, I always keep in touch with Armenians, I love you very much. I hope you know that. I have visited your country a lot, my admiration for your nation is growing every time. You build your victory with boundless courage. The world owes Armenia and Artsakh for freedom, for that example of struggle. You continue to live because you create beauty from the ashes of war. I was going to come to Armenia again this year, but the coronavirus made it impossible. But I will be back as soon as possible and as often as possible.
- Baroness, we are always waiting for you. Do you have a message for the international community, which, so to speak, sometimes turns a blind eye to border events?
- I have an offer to the international community. What Azerbaijan did on the Armenian border, when it fired on a kindergarten, when it struck a factory producing masks to fight the coronavirus, was a special manifestation of cruelty. It was a war for no reason. I propose to strongly condemn these actions, to understand the background, not to obey the Azerbaijani propaganda machine. The Armenian community of the world should talk about Nakhichevan, which was Armenian but is now completely populated by Azeris. I was in an Armenian village when it was attacked. What Azerbaijan did against the Armenians was a crime against humanity that must be made public
I call on Armenia's supporters, France and Canada, to defend Armenia's position more. Azerbaijan has propaganda, you have the truth. you should use the truth instead of propaganda. I hope my letter contributes to that.
- The settlement of the Karabakh conflict has always been on your agenda. What are the priority topics of the Armenian-British parliamentary group now?
- This is a new group with a very good new leader from the House of Commons, I am the Vice chairwoman. Many in the group were in Artsakh. I hope that others will also be able to come in the near future and to see the reality, to meet the people of Artsakh.
-Thank you, Baroness Cox, We are honored.
- Greetings to the wonderful Armenian people, you are in my heart, mind and prayers.
By Sona Aghbalyan
Below - the untranslated version of the interview
