Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Khalaf Khalafov attended High Level Segment

Azerbaijani delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov attended High Level Segment of the 22nd session of the UN Human Rights Council. Deputy Minister Khalaf Khalafov addressed the meeting on the first day of the session that was being held on 25-28 February.

In his address Deputy Minister Khalafov spoke about the existing cooperation between Azerbaijan and the UN Human Rights Council and said that second periodic national report presented by the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan will be discussed on 30 April 2013 as part of the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review mechanism.

He also gave a comprehensive briefing about Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan, occupation of Azerbaijani territories and its implications. As these days Azerbaijani people mark the 21st anniversary of Khojaly Genocide, Deputy Minister Khalaf Khalafov took the opportunity to draw the attention of high level officials of various countries to Khojaly Genocide, informing them about decisions of world parliaments recognizing the genocide and stressed that the international recognition serves the establishment of truth and justice. In that regard Deputy Minister Khalafov called on the UN Human Rights Council to establish a Special Commission in order to examine facts and give its due legal assessment to Khojaly events.

While in Geneva Deputy Minister Khalaf Khalafov also held bilateral meetings with foreign minister of Vietnam Socialist Republic Fam Bin Min and Chairman of National Human Rights Centre of Uzbekistan Akmal Saidov. At the meetings they discussed the current state of bilateral relations and prospects of cooperation as well as other issues of mutual interest.