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Azeri minister warns of humanitarian crisis in Armenian-occupied Karabakh
Turan news agency, Baku
24 Nov 04
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has said that Baku is
concerned about a "massive" settlement programme carried out by Armenia
on Azerbaijan's occupied lands while holding peace talks to resolve the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. Addressing a UN General Assembly session,
he warned of a humanitarian crisis that may arise if the problem
persisted. The minister also said that Azerbaijan did not intend
to put the issue of the conflict resolution onto the UN agenda. The
following is the text of the report by Azerbaijani news agency Turan:
New York, 24 November: "The situation in the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan" has been discussed at the 59th session of the UN in New
York. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov addressed the
session. The minister noted that UN Security Council SC resolutions
Nos 822, 853, 874 and 884 issued in 1993 are the basis for resolving
the conflict, a source from Azerbaijan's resident representation at
the UN told Turan.
Mammadyarov said that Azerbaijan has been abiding by the cease-fire
for 10 years, which testifies to Baku's aspiration to settle the
conflict peacefully. He also informed the audience of a series of
meetings between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia
in Prague mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group. During these meetings,
the parties discussed the main parameters of the settlement of the
conflict, including the liberation of all the occupied territories,
the return of displaced persons to their native lands, the restoration
of transport and other communications between Armenia and Azerbaijan
and the gradual solution of the political side of the conflict.
However, Armenia is massively populating the occupied territories
while negotiations are being held and this causes Azerbaijan's
"concern". Earlier, this used to be episodic, but Armenia has
recently organized a massive settlement programme. This programme is
being implemented by the department for refugees and migrants of the
Armenian government and is called "Return to Karabakh". The programme
is financed with funds that Yerevan allocates to Karabakh separatists,
the Azerbaijani foreign minister said.
Causing special concern is the situation in Lacin District, where
Armenia has already settled 13,000 Armenians. The names of Azerbaijani
villages and settlements have been Armenified. The Armenian diaspora
is taking a direct part in this programme, which aims at populating
Nagornyy Karabakh with Armenian migrants.
The Armenian government is also using its armed forces located in the
occupied lands of Azerbaijan to set up new residential areas, and
two residential areas have been constructed in Kalbacar with their
participation. Hundreds of Armenians from Iran, Russia, Lebanon and
other countries are being settled there and get numerous privileges
from the Armenian government. In particular, they get material
assistance and long-term loans to restore the houses that were
originally owned by Azerbaijanis.
The Armenian government intends to bring the number of the Armenian
population in the occupied Azerbaijani territories to 300,000 by 2010.
Mammadyarov said these and other facts were reflected in the reports
by the US State Department and some foreign media. "The settlement
policy being pursued by Armenia contradicts the corresponding UN SC
resolutions, international humanitarian law and in particular the
Geneva Convention of 1949 and confirms Armenia's claims to Azerbaijani
lands," Mammadyarov said.
Azerbaijan introduced draft resolution A/59/L at the General Assembly,
the minister said. However, Azerbaijan doesn't intend to put the issue
of the settlement onto the UN agenda. But if the issues disrupting
the peace process remain unsolved, it will lead to a humanitarian
crisis. Armenia should "deport" the Armenians that were settled in the
occupied territories and guarantee that this will never happen again,
the minister warned.
The representatives of Turkey and Pakistan supported Azerbaijan's
position at the assembly. They said the settlement of the conflict
is possible only on the basis of observing sovereignty, territorial
integrity and international law.
Armenia's representative Armen Martirosyan attempted to deny the
abovementioned facts. He said there is no need for the involvement
of the General Assembly in the issue. The Armenian diplomat also said
that Nagornyy Karabakh has never been and will never be a constituent
part of Azerbaijan. A US representative speaking on behalf of the
co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group said that Azerbaijan's concern
may be addressed at the OSCE. He supported Azerbaijan's proposal to
establish a group of experts to investigate these facts.
Stressing that the discussions of the text of the resolution continue,
the chairman of the session adjourned voting.
Commenting on the hearings, Mammadyarov stressed their importance. "It
is difficult to talk about results yet, but Azerbaijan has managed to
tell the international community the truth about Armenia populating
Azerbaijani territories. Azerbaijan's position in this issue remains
unchanged: all the occupied territories should be liberated and
displaced persons should return to their native lands."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Turan news agency, Baku
24 Nov 04
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has said that Baku is
concerned about a "massive" settlement programme carried out by Armenia
on Azerbaijan's occupied lands while holding peace talks to resolve the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. Addressing a UN General Assembly session,
he warned of a humanitarian crisis that may arise if the problem
persisted. The minister also said that Azerbaijan did not intend
to put the issue of the conflict resolution onto the UN agenda. The
following is the text of the report by Azerbaijani news agency Turan:
New York, 24 November: "The situation in the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan" has been discussed at the 59th session of the UN in New
York. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov addressed the
session. The minister noted that UN Security Council SC resolutions
Nos 822, 853, 874 and 884 issued in 1993 are the basis for resolving
the conflict, a source from Azerbaijan's resident representation at
the UN told Turan.
Mammadyarov said that Azerbaijan has been abiding by the cease-fire
for 10 years, which testifies to Baku's aspiration to settle the
conflict peacefully. He also informed the audience of a series of
meetings between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia
in Prague mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group. During these meetings,
the parties discussed the main parameters of the settlement of the
conflict, including the liberation of all the occupied territories,
the return of displaced persons to their native lands, the restoration
of transport and other communications between Armenia and Azerbaijan
and the gradual solution of the political side of the conflict.
However, Armenia is massively populating the occupied territories
while negotiations are being held and this causes Azerbaijan's
"concern". Earlier, this used to be episodic, but Armenia has
recently organized a massive settlement programme. This programme is
being implemented by the department for refugees and migrants of the
Armenian government and is called "Return to Karabakh". The programme
is financed with funds that Yerevan allocates to Karabakh separatists,
the Azerbaijani foreign minister said.
Causing special concern is the situation in Lacin District, where
Armenia has already settled 13,000 Armenians. The names of Azerbaijani
villages and settlements have been Armenified. The Armenian diaspora
is taking a direct part in this programme, which aims at populating
Nagornyy Karabakh with Armenian migrants.
The Armenian government is also using its armed forces located in the
occupied lands of Azerbaijan to set up new residential areas, and
two residential areas have been constructed in Kalbacar with their
participation. Hundreds of Armenians from Iran, Russia, Lebanon and
other countries are being settled there and get numerous privileges
from the Armenian government. In particular, they get material
assistance and long-term loans to restore the houses that were
originally owned by Azerbaijanis.
The Armenian government intends to bring the number of the Armenian
population in the occupied Azerbaijani territories to 300,000 by 2010.
Mammadyarov said these and other facts were reflected in the reports
by the US State Department and some foreign media. "The settlement
policy being pursued by Armenia contradicts the corresponding UN SC
resolutions, international humanitarian law and in particular the
Geneva Convention of 1949 and confirms Armenia's claims to Azerbaijani
lands," Mammadyarov said.
Azerbaijan introduced draft resolution A/59/L at the General Assembly,
the minister said. However, Azerbaijan doesn't intend to put the issue
of the settlement onto the UN agenda. But if the issues disrupting
the peace process remain unsolved, it will lead to a humanitarian
crisis. Armenia should "deport" the Armenians that were settled in the
occupied territories and guarantee that this will never happen again,
the minister warned.
The representatives of Turkey and Pakistan supported Azerbaijan's
position at the assembly. They said the settlement of the conflict
is possible only on the basis of observing sovereignty, territorial
integrity and international law.
Armenia's representative Armen Martirosyan attempted to deny the
abovementioned facts. He said there is no need for the involvement
of the General Assembly in the issue. The Armenian diplomat also said
that Nagornyy Karabakh has never been and will never be a constituent
part of Azerbaijan. A US representative speaking on behalf of the
co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group said that Azerbaijan's concern
may be addressed at the OSCE. He supported Azerbaijan's proposal to
establish a group of experts to investigate these facts.
Stressing that the discussions of the text of the resolution continue,
the chairman of the session adjourned voting.
Commenting on the hearings, Mammadyarov stressed their importance. "It
is difficult to talk about results yet, but Azerbaijan has managed to
tell the international community the truth about Armenia populating
Azerbaijani territories. Azerbaijan's position in this issue remains
unchanged: all the occupied territories should be liberated and
displaced persons should return to their native lands."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress