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FM: NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION MUST START WITH WITHDRAWAL OF ARMENIAN ARMED FORCES FROM OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Trend
Sept 27 2011
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is confident that the conflict resolution must start with
the withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories
of Nagorno Karabakh, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan
Elmar Mamedyarov said in his speech during the UN General Assembly
on Tuesday.
"Azerbaijan is confident that the conflict resolution must start
with the withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied
territories within the fixed time-table and follow by the restoration
of communications, return of refugees and internally displaced persons
and creation of conditions for peaceful coexistence of Azerbaijanis
and Armenians in the Nagorno Karabakh region within the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan," Mamedyarov said.
According to Mamedyarov, this step-by-step approach, which has been
proposed by the mediators and supported by the international community,
except, unfortunately, the leadership of Armenia, can bring durable
peace, stability and predictability to the region.
Mamedyarov welcomed the adoption at the sixty-fifth session of the
General Assembly a resolution on s trengthening the role of mediation
in the peaceful settlement of disputes, conflict prevention and
resolution. "In this document, the General Assembly r eiterated that
all Member States should strictly adhere to their obligations as laid
down in the UN Charter and r eaffirmed, inter alia, the commitment
to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political
independence of all States.
Azerbaijan looks forward to the relevant guidance for more effective
mediation, as it was indicated in the resolution, and we are ready
to actively contribute to its elaboration," said Mamedyarov .
"Unfortunately, we have to admit that not all States approach
responsibly to their international obligations and comply with
the generally accepted norms and principles of international law,"
minister added.
"For almost two decades we have been facing the flagrant violation of
the UN Charter and other documents of international law by the Republic
of Armenia, which perpetrated aggression against the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan," the minister
underscored. "As a result of this aggression, almost 20 percent of
the territory of Azerbaijan continues to remain under occupation and
about 1 million Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced persons
are unable to return to their homes."
Mamedyarov noted that in 1993, the United Nations Security Council
adopted four resolutions, which demanded the immediate, complete and
unconditional withdrawal of Armenian forces from all the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan and reaffirmed the sovereignty, territorial
integrity and inviolability of the internationally recognized borders
of Azerbaijan. The same appeals were made also by other international
organizations. "Unfortunately, Armenia continues to ignore the calls
of the international community."
According to Mamedyarov, what is even more worrisome is that, instead
of preparing its people for peace, prosperous and stable future in
friendship and cooperation with neighboring countries, the leadership
of Armenia continues to publicly incite the future generations to
new wars, violence and aggression and propagate by all means the
dangerous ideas of animosity and hatred towards not only Azerbaijan,
but also other peoples of the region.
Mamedyarov said illegal activities in the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan , including i mplantation of ethnic Armenian settlers
as well as destruction and appropriation of historical and cultural
heritage, represent another source of serious concern. "Such activities
serve to further consolidation of the current status quo of the
occupation, securing the results of ethnic cleansing and colonization
of the seized lands, as well as seriously hamper the perspectives of
the conflict resolution," Mamedyarov said. "Earlier in this hall we
have witnessed a very aggressive and unconstructive statement of the
President of Armenia. He openly confirmed this destructive policy
of Armenia."
The Field Assessment Mission (FAM), conducted by the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs last October to the occupied territories of Azerbaijan,
stated, inter alia, that the status quo of the occupation is
unacceptable and urged Armenia to put an end to its illegal practices
in these territories, he said.
"As a country suffering from the occupation of its territories
and the forcible displacement of hundreds of thousands of its
citizens, Azerbaijan is the most interested party in the earliest
negotiated settlement of the conflict. Our position is well known
to the international community and is based on strict adherence to
the norms and principles of international law, according to which
the acquisition of territory by force is inadmissible and must be
rejected resolutely and unconditionally"-said Mamedyarov in his speech.
According to Mamedyarov, it is absolutely illogical when the leadership
of Armenia, who has implemented the total ethnic cleansing of not only
the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, but also its own territory
from their Azerbaijani population, is trying to apply the principle
of self-determination. It is obvious that one cannot expel peoples
from their homes on ethnic ground and, at the same time, speak about
self-determination on the same ground for those remained.
"Azerbaijan recognizes that the right of peoples to self-determination
can be implemented only and only at all times in conformity with
the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and with the relevant
norms of international law, including those relating to territorial
integrity of States, as it is enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act,"
Mamedyarov added.
Azerbaijan still maintains its interest, motivation and patience in
this very hard and sensitive process of negotiations, he said. "We
believe that the international community will convince the Armenian
side to respect the generally accepted norms and principles of
international law and cease abusing the right of Azerbaijanis to live
within their own territory, including the Nagorno Karabakh region. In
return, we are ready to guarantee the highest level of self-rule for
this region within the Republic of Azerbaijan," he added.
Trend
Sept 27 2011
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is confident that the conflict resolution must start with
the withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories
of Nagorno Karabakh, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan
Elmar Mamedyarov said in his speech during the UN General Assembly
on Tuesday.
"Azerbaijan is confident that the conflict resolution must start
with the withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied
territories within the fixed time-table and follow by the restoration
of communications, return of refugees and internally displaced persons
and creation of conditions for peaceful coexistence of Azerbaijanis
and Armenians in the Nagorno Karabakh region within the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan," Mamedyarov said.
According to Mamedyarov, this step-by-step approach, which has been
proposed by the mediators and supported by the international community,
except, unfortunately, the leadership of Armenia, can bring durable
peace, stability and predictability to the region.
Mamedyarov welcomed the adoption at the sixty-fifth session of the
General Assembly a resolution on s trengthening the role of mediation
in the peaceful settlement of disputes, conflict prevention and
resolution. "In this document, the General Assembly r eiterated that
all Member States should strictly adhere to their obligations as laid
down in the UN Charter and r eaffirmed, inter alia, the commitment
to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political
independence of all States.
Azerbaijan looks forward to the relevant guidance for more effective
mediation, as it was indicated in the resolution, and we are ready
to actively contribute to its elaboration," said Mamedyarov .
"Unfortunately, we have to admit that not all States approach
responsibly to their international obligations and comply with
the generally accepted norms and principles of international law,"
minister added.
"For almost two decades we have been facing the flagrant violation of
the UN Charter and other documents of international law by the Republic
of Armenia, which perpetrated aggression against the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan," the minister
underscored. "As a result of this aggression, almost 20 percent of
the territory of Azerbaijan continues to remain under occupation and
about 1 million Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced persons
are unable to return to their homes."
Mamedyarov noted that in 1993, the United Nations Security Council
adopted four resolutions, which demanded the immediate, complete and
unconditional withdrawal of Armenian forces from all the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan and reaffirmed the sovereignty, territorial
integrity and inviolability of the internationally recognized borders
of Azerbaijan. The same appeals were made also by other international
organizations. "Unfortunately, Armenia continues to ignore the calls
of the international community."
According to Mamedyarov, what is even more worrisome is that, instead
of preparing its people for peace, prosperous and stable future in
friendship and cooperation with neighboring countries, the leadership
of Armenia continues to publicly incite the future generations to
new wars, violence and aggression and propagate by all means the
dangerous ideas of animosity and hatred towards not only Azerbaijan,
but also other peoples of the region.
Mamedyarov said illegal activities in the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan , including i mplantation of ethnic Armenian settlers
as well as destruction and appropriation of historical and cultural
heritage, represent another source of serious concern. "Such activities
serve to further consolidation of the current status quo of the
occupation, securing the results of ethnic cleansing and colonization
of the seized lands, as well as seriously hamper the perspectives of
the conflict resolution," Mamedyarov said. "Earlier in this hall we
have witnessed a very aggressive and unconstructive statement of the
President of Armenia. He openly confirmed this destructive policy
of Armenia."
The Field Assessment Mission (FAM), conducted by the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs last October to the occupied territories of Azerbaijan,
stated, inter alia, that the status quo of the occupation is
unacceptable and urged Armenia to put an end to its illegal practices
in these territories, he said.
"As a country suffering from the occupation of its territories
and the forcible displacement of hundreds of thousands of its
citizens, Azerbaijan is the most interested party in the earliest
negotiated settlement of the conflict. Our position is well known
to the international community and is based on strict adherence to
the norms and principles of international law, according to which
the acquisition of territory by force is inadmissible and must be
rejected resolutely and unconditionally"-said Mamedyarov in his speech.
According to Mamedyarov, it is absolutely illogical when the leadership
of Armenia, who has implemented the total ethnic cleansing of not only
the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, but also its own territory
from their Azerbaijani population, is trying to apply the principle
of self-determination. It is obvious that one cannot expel peoples
from their homes on ethnic ground and, at the same time, speak about
self-determination on the same ground for those remained.
"Azerbaijan recognizes that the right of peoples to self-determination
can be implemented only and only at all times in conformity with
the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and with the relevant
norms of international law, including those relating to territorial
integrity of States, as it is enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act,"
Mamedyarov added.
Azerbaijan still maintains its interest, motivation and patience in
this very hard and sensitive process of negotiations, he said. "We
believe that the international community will convince the Armenian
side to respect the generally accepted norms and principles of
international law and cease abusing the right of Azerbaijanis to live
within their own territory, including the Nagorno Karabakh region. In
return, we are ready to guarantee the highest level of self-rule for
this region within the Republic of Azerbaijan," he added.