Azeri MPs concerned about cultural monuments destruction in Karabakh
ANS TV, Baku
20 Apr 04
[Presenter Aytan Safarova] Nagornyy Karabakh became a subject of
discussion in the Azerbaijani parliament today. MP Ibrahim Isayev
called on his colleagues to appeal to international organizations with
regard to the fate of cultural monuments and graves destroyed in Susa
[Shushi].
[Correspondent, over video of parliament’s sitting] The parliament
started its sitting today with current issues. MPs mostly spoke about
the Nagornyy Karabakh problem. Citing precise information, Isayev said
that the Susa castle and the Susa cemetery had been destroyed and Susa
had been renamed Shushi. He called on his colleagues not to be
indifferent to these facts.
[Isayev] The UN and various international organizations must be told
about that and all the bells must be set ringing. According to
reports, the walls of the castle are being destroyed to expand the
territory under a carpet workshop built by an Armenian entrepreneur of
Belgian origin. The names of the town’s ancient quarters have been
replaced by Armenian ones.
[Correspondent] Isayev also said that several US companies have been
operating on the occupied Azerbaijani lands. He added that the US
government should urgently recall these companies and the US
ambassador to Azerbaijan should be told about this.
MP Zahid Oruc spoke about a rapprochement between Iran and Armenia. He
said that the Azerbaijani foreign minister should protest against the
agreement on the construction of Iranian-Armenian power plants on the
occupied lands.
Some MPs called for an information war against the Armenians.
[MP Sabir Rustamxanli, captioned] There is a need for establishing a
certain body to conduct the information war.
[MP Qudrat Hasanquliyev] We must certainly establish a TV station in
Agdam [partly occupied by Armenia] which will broadcast in the
Armenian language in Nagornyy Karabakh. Azerbaijan must finally
initiate this.
We can form a provisional administration by restoring Nagornyy
Karabakh’s autonomous status with people who will recognize
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and agree to be citizens of
Azerbaijan. After liberating our lands, we could bring these forces to
power and then determine the status of Nagornyy Karabakh.
[Passage omitted: MPs discussed other issues]