ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN EXCHANGE ACCUSATIONS ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH DURING UN
DEBATE
Armenia and Azerbaijan have accused
each other during addresses to the United Nations General Assembly of not
being interested in achieving a lasting peace settlement in the disputed
region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
UN News Center, September 26, 2006
General Assembly Armenia and Azerbaijan have accused each other during
addresses to the United Nations General Assembly of not being interested
in achieving a lasting peace settlement in the disputed region of
Nagorno-Karabakh.
Elmar Mammadyarov, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, told the Assembly
yesterday that a recent joint environmental operation between the two
countries to tackle major fires inside Nagorno-Karabakh has been "the only
positive development so far."
"The occupying forces have to withdraw from the occupied territories and
necessary conditions have to be in place to allow secure and dignified
return of the Azerbaijani displaced persons to the Nagorno-Karabakh region
and surrounding territories of Azerbaijan," he said.
Nagorno-Karabakh's status can only be defined "through peaceful,
democratic and legal process with direct participation and consent of both
Azerbaijani and Armenian communities," he said, adding that the region's
economic development must be strengthened and its inter-communal relations
enhanced.
But "it is difficult to hope for a breakthrough in the negotiations when
Armenia rejects face-to-face meetings and refuses to take a constructive
approach to solve existing problems."
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said yesterday that "the people
of Nagorno-Karabakh chose long ago not to be represented by the Government
of Azerbaijan. They were the victims of state violence, they defended
themselves, and succeeded against great odds, only to hear the State cry
foul and claim sovereignty and territorial integrity."
Mr. Oskanian said that last December Azerbaijan destroyed or removed
thousands of hand-sculpted mediaeval Armenian tombstones.
"Such destruction, in an area with no Armenians, at a distance from
Nagorno-Karabakh and any conflict areas, is a callous demonstration that
Azerbaijan's attitude towards tolerance, human values, cultural treasures,
cooperation or even peace, has not changed."
He added that "one cannot blame us for thinking that Azerbaijan is not
ready or interested in a negotiated peace."
THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTED RESOLUTION ON
"THE SITUATION IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF AZERBAIJAN"
GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADDS ITEM ON 'GUAM' CONFLICTS ON ITS AGENDA
AZERBAIJAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER ADDRESSES GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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