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AZERBAIJANI TOP OFFICIAL: NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT MUST BE DISCUSSED AT UN DURING AZERBAIJAN'S ACTIVITY IN SECURITY COUNCIL
Trend
Dec 9 2011
Azerbaijan
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be discussed at the UN when
Azerbaijan starts its activity in the UN Security Council, the Head
of the Foreign Relations Department at the Azerbaijani Presidential
Administration Novruz Mammadov said.
"The issue of discussing the situation in Azerbaijani territories under
Armenian occupation has been included in the agenda of the UN General
Assembly," Mammadov said in an interview with the official website
of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party. "Expressing a specific position
at any time, we will make every effort to discuss it. But I think
this will not be purposeful, if we do this in December 2011. In this
sense, I think that it would be better if we wait a bit. I believe
that it would be better if we raise the issue in the organization
when Azerbaijan launches its activity in the UN Security Council."
Azerbaijan was elected a member of the UN Security Council for 2012
- 2013 in October 2011. About 155 countries supported Azerbaijan,
by assessing it as a worthy member of the independent, fair and
global community.
Regarding the opportunity of expecting any changes in the process of
the conflict settlement, Mammadov said that it is very difficult to
say anything concrete about this.
"The reason is that certain processes are expected to occur in
co-chairing countries next year. Europe and the world have some
problems, in particular, the financial crisis. Moreover, the Armenian
side is always looking for an excuse to delay the conflict settlement.
But I think that the international community and the OSCE are
responsible for this. How is it possible not to make any step forward
in connection with the conflict lasting over 20 years? This is wrong.
In this case, the OSCE also loses faith in itself."
The 20th anniversary of the establishment of the OSCE Minsk Group
will be marked in 2012.
Mammadov said that the co-chairing countries must think that the
steps taken against small Armenia in connection with this issue do
not give any results.
"We must think about this," he said. "I think that whatever processes
are available, we must see the intensity in the negotiations."
Regarding the elections expected to be held in co-chairing countries
and Armenia next year and that some experts think that this factor
may create stagnation in the negotiation process, Mammadov said that
Armenia is always looking for an excuse to delay in the negotiation
process.
"One of the means of delaying the negotiation process is the
stagnation," he said. "Therefore, I think that the Armenians may use
these excuses. But how much patience must Azerbaijan have when the
Armenians use these excuses? Sooner or later we will liberate our
land from occupation. We demonstrate great will for this and try to
resolve the conflict through negotiations."
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.
The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. -
are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.
Novruz Mammadov'statement can be also followed on his personal Twitter
page at www.twitter.com / NovruzMammadov
From: A. Papazian
Trend
Dec 9 2011
Azerbaijan
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be discussed at the UN when
Azerbaijan starts its activity in the UN Security Council, the Head
of the Foreign Relations Department at the Azerbaijani Presidential
Administration Novruz Mammadov said.
"The issue of discussing the situation in Azerbaijani territories under
Armenian occupation has been included in the agenda of the UN General
Assembly," Mammadov said in an interview with the official website
of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party. "Expressing a specific position
at any time, we will make every effort to discuss it. But I think
this will not be purposeful, if we do this in December 2011. In this
sense, I think that it would be better if we wait a bit. I believe
that it would be better if we raise the issue in the organization
when Azerbaijan launches its activity in the UN Security Council."
Azerbaijan was elected a member of the UN Security Council for 2012
- 2013 in October 2011. About 155 countries supported Azerbaijan,
by assessing it as a worthy member of the independent, fair and
global community.
Regarding the opportunity of expecting any changes in the process of
the conflict settlement, Mammadov said that it is very difficult to
say anything concrete about this.
"The reason is that certain processes are expected to occur in
co-chairing countries next year. Europe and the world have some
problems, in particular, the financial crisis. Moreover, the Armenian
side is always looking for an excuse to delay the conflict settlement.
But I think that the international community and the OSCE are
responsible for this. How is it possible not to make any step forward
in connection with the conflict lasting over 20 years? This is wrong.
In this case, the OSCE also loses faith in itself."
The 20th anniversary of the establishment of the OSCE Minsk Group
will be marked in 2012.
Mammadov said that the co-chairing countries must think that the
steps taken against small Armenia in connection with this issue do
not give any results.
"We must think about this," he said. "I think that whatever processes
are available, we must see the intensity in the negotiations."
Regarding the elections expected to be held in co-chairing countries
and Armenia next year and that some experts think that this factor
may create stagnation in the negotiation process, Mammadov said that
Armenia is always looking for an excuse to delay in the negotiation
process.
"One of the means of delaying the negotiation process is the
stagnation," he said. "Therefore, I think that the Armenians may use
these excuses. But how much patience must Azerbaijan have when the
Armenians use these excuses? Sooner or later we will liberate our
land from occupation. We demonstrate great will for this and try to
resolve the conflict through negotiations."
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.
The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. -
are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.
Novruz Mammadov'statement can be also followed on his personal Twitter
page at www.twitter.com / NovruzMammadov
From: A. Papazian