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YEREVAN DECRIES AZERI PUSH FOR MUSLIM SUPPORT ON KARABAKH
Ruzanna Stepanian
Armenialiberty.org
http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/24417280.html
Dec 9 2011
President Serzh Sarkisian strongly criticized Azerbaijan on Friday
for mobilizing Muslim countries to support its position on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"I pointed out that Azerbaijan is stubbornly trying to present the
conflict in the light of religious disagreements within the framework
of Islamic countries," he said after talks with Lebanon's visiting
President Michel Suleiman. "I think that in case of more or less
knowing the history of the Armenian people and the cause of the
[Karabakh] conflict it's impossible to trust in such an approach."
"Nevertheless, we find that approach extremely dangerous because there
are also circles unfamiliar with those details and such anti-Armenian
propaganda may not end up without consequences," Sarkisian told a
joint news conference.
Sarkisian appeared to refer to pro-Azerbaijani statements repeatedly
issued by Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that unites 57
countries with predominantly Muslim populations, including Lebanon.
Many of them also voted in 2008 for a UN General Assembly resolution
that demanded the "immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal
of Armenian forces" from occupied Azerbaijani lands.
The Karabakh dispute is also the reason why at least two of those
countries, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, refuse to even recognize Armenia
as an independent state.
Earlier this year, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev again commended
Islamic states for lending unconditional support to Baku. He also
called for greater "Islamic solidarity" and a "higher level of mutual
support" in the international arena.
Sarkisian condemned this stance as "nonsense." "On this issue the
impartial and unbiased stance of friendly states is also important
because any reckless step helps to undermine the shaky regional
stability," he said in clear reference to Lebanon, an Arab country
with a sizable and influential Armenian community.
Suleiman, who is a Maronite Christian, stressed that Lebanon has
never supported OIC statements on Karabakh. Moreover, he said the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict should be resolved on the basis of the
principle of people's self-determination.
Suleiman further thanked Yerevan for supporting his country in the
conflict with Israel.
Ruzanna Stepanian
Armenialiberty.org
http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/24417280.html
Dec 9 2011
President Serzh Sarkisian strongly criticized Azerbaijan on Friday
for mobilizing Muslim countries to support its position on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"I pointed out that Azerbaijan is stubbornly trying to present the
conflict in the light of religious disagreements within the framework
of Islamic countries," he said after talks with Lebanon's visiting
President Michel Suleiman. "I think that in case of more or less
knowing the history of the Armenian people and the cause of the
[Karabakh] conflict it's impossible to trust in such an approach."
"Nevertheless, we find that approach extremely dangerous because there
are also circles unfamiliar with those details and such anti-Armenian
propaganda may not end up without consequences," Sarkisian told a
joint news conference.
Sarkisian appeared to refer to pro-Azerbaijani statements repeatedly
issued by Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that unites 57
countries with predominantly Muslim populations, including Lebanon.
Many of them also voted in 2008 for a UN General Assembly resolution
that demanded the "immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal
of Armenian forces" from occupied Azerbaijani lands.
The Karabakh dispute is also the reason why at least two of those
countries, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, refuse to even recognize Armenia
as an independent state.
Earlier this year, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev again commended
Islamic states for lending unconditional support to Baku. He also
called for greater "Islamic solidarity" and a "higher level of mutual
support" in the international arena.
Sarkisian condemned this stance as "nonsense." "On this issue the
impartial and unbiased stance of friendly states is also important
because any reckless step helps to undermine the shaky regional
stability," he said in clear reference to Lebanon, an Arab country
with a sizable and influential Armenian community.
Suleiman, who is a Maronite Christian, stressed that Lebanon has
never supported OIC statements on Karabakh. Moreover, he said the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict should be resolved on the basis of the
principle of people's self-determination.
Suleiman further thanked Yerevan for supporting his country in the
conflict with Israel.