Turning a blind eye to the occupation of the lands of other states poses a threat to peace and security all over the world," said speaker of Azerbaijan`s Parliament Ogtay Asadov as he addressed the 137th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in St. Petersburg.

"Unfortunately, Armenia has ignored the decisions and resolutions of authoritative international organizations over the past 25 years and continues to grossly violate international law. This is strange that there is no mechanism forcing the aggressor to comply with the decisions of international organizations. And this leads to the double standard approach towards the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakf conflict."

Ogtay Asadov pointed out Armenia's policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide against the Azerbaijanii people, saying one million Azerbaijanis became refugees and internally displaced persons as a result of Armenia's aggressive policy.

"The international community must take resolute measures and all the conflicts, including the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh dispute must be settled on the basis of generally recognized principles and norms of international law, particularly the territorial integrity of states.”

Speaker of Parliament Ogtay Asadov also hailed Azerbaijan's model of tolerance and multiculturalism.

He highlighted large-scale international events that Azerbaijan has hosted.

The event then featured a discussion of a number of organizational issues.

Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matviyenko was elected as a new chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, while Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vanuatu were elected as new members of the Union increasing the number of parliaments joining the Alliance to 176.

Farida Abdullayeva

Special Correspondent