FM: AZERBAIJAN FAILS TO JOIN UN CONVENTION
Hajiyev
Trend
Aug 2 2010
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan fails to join the UN Cluster Munitions Convention now, the
Foreign Ministry arms control department specialist Elchin Huseynli
said during a round-table-meeting organized by the public association
"Azerbaijani campaign against mines".
"Azerbaijani territories - Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding
regions are under occupation. Therefore, Azerbaijan can not join
the UN Cluster Munitions Convention now. Azerbaijan supports the
convention. But the country has to avoid joining this convention
till its territory is under occupation. At the same time, Azerbaijan
welcomes the initiatives in this direction, " Huseynli said.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman said that the complete elimination
of cluster munitions is one of the biggest challenges of the world
community in XXI century. He said that since 2007 Azerbaijan has
been participating as an observer in all conferences within the
Oslo process.
"Azerbaijan takes the humanitarian principles of disarmament as a
basis. Our country has joined the Nuclear Weapons Convention and
other similar documents", Huseynli said.
The UN Cluster Munitions Convention entered into force August 1,
this year, chairman of the public association "Azerbaijani campaign
against landmines" Hafiz Safihanov said.
Safihanov said that cluster weapons were created and used during the
Korean War. A coalition was formed against cluster weapons in 2003.
The international community has begun to work to ban such weapons at
the initiative of the Norwegian government.
Cluster munitions were banned at the talks in Oslo, Norway in 2007.
Earlier, Commissioner of the European Council for Human Rights Thomas
Hammarberg, has called for Azerbaijan's and Armenia's joining the
convention banning cluster munitions.
From: A. Papazian
Hajiyev
Trend
Aug 2 2010
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan fails to join the UN Cluster Munitions Convention now, the
Foreign Ministry arms control department specialist Elchin Huseynli
said during a round-table-meeting organized by the public association
"Azerbaijani campaign against mines".
"Azerbaijani territories - Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding
regions are under occupation. Therefore, Azerbaijan can not join
the UN Cluster Munitions Convention now. Azerbaijan supports the
convention. But the country has to avoid joining this convention
till its territory is under occupation. At the same time, Azerbaijan
welcomes the initiatives in this direction, " Huseynli said.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman said that the complete elimination
of cluster munitions is one of the biggest challenges of the world
community in XXI century. He said that since 2007 Azerbaijan has
been participating as an observer in all conferences within the
Oslo process.
"Azerbaijan takes the humanitarian principles of disarmament as a
basis. Our country has joined the Nuclear Weapons Convention and
other similar documents", Huseynli said.
The UN Cluster Munitions Convention entered into force August 1,
this year, chairman of the public association "Azerbaijani campaign
against landmines" Hafiz Safihanov said.
Safihanov said that cluster weapons were created and used during the
Korean War. A coalition was formed against cluster weapons in 2003.
The international community has begun to work to ban such weapons at
the initiative of the Norwegian government.
Cluster munitions were banned at the talks in Oslo, Norway in 2007.
Earlier, Commissioner of the European Council for Human Rights Thomas
Hammarberg, has called for Azerbaijan's and Armenia's joining the
convention banning cluster munitions.
From: A. Papazian