AZERI CAMPAIGNER SLAMS IRAN FOR CLOSER TIES WITH ARMENIA, KARABAKH

Elci, Baku
15 Aug 04

entitled “Tehran recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity in
word” and subheaded “Iran’s activities serve to sever Karabakh from
Azerbaijan”

A new area of Iranian cooperation with Armenia will be upgrading the
telecommunication system in the occupied Azerbaijani territory of
Nagornyy Karabakh. A joint project has been drawn up.

Commenting on the issue, the chairman of the committee to protect the
rights of the National Revival Movement of Southern Azerbaijan
(northwestern Iran), Cahandar Bayoglu, told Olaylar that Iran had
signed numerous contracts with Armenia and the separatist leadership
of the self-proclaimed “Nagornyy Karabakh Republic”: “They envisage
communications and power supplies. By these obvious activities, Tehran
recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and Karabakh as an
integral part of Azerbaijan merely in words. However, actually, Iran
is against Azerbaijan’s statehood. This proves that despite some
positive statements by the Iranian president, Tehran’s policy is
against Azerbaijan. Iran’s activities serve to sever Nagornyy Karabakh
from Azerbaijan and bolster Armenia.”