Ocampo: Our message ahead of COP29 in Baku is to release Armenian  hostages, stop the genocide

ArmInfo.Former Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Luis Moreno Ocampo believes that the issue of releasing former military and political leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijani prisons should  be on the agenda and part of discussions during the COP29 summit, which will be held in Baku in November.

 , Ocampo said on  September 13 during a press conference in Yerevan.

 

"I have participated in various processes related to other genocides  around the world, but for the first time I see cooperation on a  global scale, and this is a fantastic achievement. In other words,  the Armenians are creating an unprecedented experience of active  cooperation, " he noted. Armenians around the world must make efforts  to secure the release of the prisoners held in Baku, Ocampo  continued. In response to the journalist's comment about how the  international community, as well as international law in general,  failed to assist the people of Artsakh during Baku's prolonged  blocade and large-scale military operations against NK after a  multi-month blockade, Ocampo acknowledged the disappointment but  stressed that international law still holds significance.  "International law is important, Baku is obliged to understand and  respect it.  Azerbaijan must also recognize and respect the rights of  the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. But we must work in this  direction," he said.

Regarding the question of what Armenia gained from joining the ICC  (the Rome Statute of the ICC entered into force in the Republic of  Armenia on February 1 - ed.), Ocampo said: "Aliyev must know that if  he attacks Armenia, he will be punished." According to him, it is  important for Armenians in 2024 to recognize that the events of 2023  were genocide. the former chief prosecutor of  the International Criminal Court said.