Baroness Caroline Cox, member of the British House of Lords and a chairperson of a British-Armenian friendship group in the British Parliament has always drawn attention with constant criticism of Azerbaijan. Recently, attending the debates on "UK-Azerbaijan relations and its role in the South Caucasus" she noted "the Armenian forces’ taking control over the territories surrounding Nagorno Karabakh was not aggressive land grabbing, but essential for survival, as they were used as bases for constant shelling of towns and villages inside Nagorno Karabakh".
According to Baroness Cox, the primary reason for the conflict remaining unresolved is the hostile policy of Azerbaijan. This pro-Armenian politician expressed her concern with extradition of Ramil Safarov and criticized the UK government for the lack of response to the matter. She had also voiced her aggressive attitude towards EU’s allocation of 19.5 million euro for reforms in justice and migration systems of Azerbaijan. She had expressed her resentment concerning the pledging of EU funds to such a "wealthy country like Azerbaijan with vast oil and gas reserves".
She went on to express concern with the expansion of Azerbaijan’s military budget, allocation of significant funds to military defense industry and Azerbaijan’s constant reminding to Armenia and the international community of the right to forcible restoration of the country’s territorial integrity. Continuing her allegations against the Azerbaijani authorities in her speech, baroness had said that parliamentarians visiting Armenia receive letters from Azerbaijan threatening to "black list" those who visit Nagorno Karabakh.
In her following remarks, she claimed that Nagorno Karabakh has historically been native land of the Armenians and attempted to accuse the Azerbaijani military of the heinous massacres of Azerbaijani civilian population perpetrated by the very Armenian forces, and insisted it was the Armenian civilians of the region that were mass murdered.
It is obvious that statement of the British MP stems from hatred towards Azerbaijanis, and unequivocally biased and partial attitude. Indeed, totally opposite of her remarks had been proven and is commonly perceived so by the international community. Also, commonly perceived is that Nagorno Karabakh is indigenous and historical Azerbaijani territory, with subsequent resettlement of the Armenians there, that Khojali massacre was indeed genocide, that Armenians are to blame for the protraction of the conflict resolution, and finally, a country holds a right to enhance its defense capability in light of a 20 year long occupation of its lands. Moreover, Azerbaijani side has always clearly stated that any unauthorized visit to the occupied territories, remaining beyond the control of Azerbaijani authorities, will be regarded as recognition of occupation and as such, visitor will be declared unwelcomed person (persona non grata). This travel warning totally eliminates the need of issuing of some clandestine letters.
Indeed, C. Cox has conducted her anti-Azerbaijani propaganda for years, and it is not at all surprising that she voices groundless allegations and distorts the facts. She has been distinctively pro-Armenian and has consistently attempted to favorably impact decisions of the British government on Armenia related matters. Baroness Cox aims to establish herself as a steadfast supporter of human rights and vocal advocate of the oppressed.
Having taken a personal interest in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict since 1991, and, according to her account having visited the region on 78 occasions, she has not bothered to inquire the plight of Azerbaijanis suffering from years of conflict, expelled from their native lands or held in the Armenian captivity. On the contrary, she has seized every opportunity to smear and belittle Azerbaijan and its people, and to express ideas that conform to deceits of the Armenian authorities and the Armenian lobby. Her activity spans beyond anti-Azerbaijani information war. She also organized "humanitarian" aid deliveries to the Armenian military, the one that occupied Azerbaijani lands, and perpetrated merciless crimes and unprecedented atrocities against the Azerbaijani civilian population of those areas (http://www.tallarmeniantale.com/cox-baroness.htm). Brief review of her activity as human rights advocate and a politician reveals long reaching relations that explain her subjective and biased attitude towards Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
Along with facilitation of the establishment of a number of humanitarian relief and human rights organizations, she happens to be the director of Andrey Sakharov Fund, named after the Soviet scientist, which until 2011 was chaired by his originally Armenian wife. Known for her conservative views, C. Cox served as the president of the Christian Solidarity Worldwide until 2006 and thereafter continued to play an essential role in the organization.
Chiefly Islamophobic outlines emerge in her "meritorious" activity in the area of protection of human rights. In 2009, as a testament to her views, she had invited Geert Wilders of the Netherland’s Party for Freedom to UK and arranged the screening of his highly controversial anti-Islamic movie "Fitna" before the House of Lords. During the time when G. Wilders was banned from entering the UK she had fiercely contested her government’s decision. In the meantime, in her activity in Nigeria, Sudan and elsewhere in Africa, and also in South Asia, she was notably guided by religious compassion, mostly endorsing religious-ethnic separatism and judging the matters solely based on religious affiliation.
Not incidentally, similar views are reflected in the approach to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. In line with Armenian efforts to present the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, distinctively political and ethnic one, as a religious standoff, Baroness Cox also portrays this conflict in the context of the clash of religions.
Being a master of fact falsification and skillful presentation of fictitious events, Baroness’s "merits" before the Armenians are "dully acknowledged". Symbol of the acknowledgement was the conferment of Baroness Cox with "Mikhitar Gosh Medal" by then President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan in 2006.
Undoubtedly, Baroness Cox became a darling of the Armenian authorities and the Armenian lobbies worldwide for her pro-Armenian and anti-Azerbaijani views. Although, one can’t help but wonder if she realizes the moral and ethical obligations of a human rights activist before the mankind while devising lies and advocating criminals.\
Hulya Mammadli
NewTimes.az