UN General Assembly discussed situation in occupied territories of Azerbaijan

Kazinform, Kazakhstan
Nov 24 2004

Astana – Baku. November 24. KAZINFORM – In New York November 23 at
60th plenary sitting of 59th session of UN General Assembly within
the Article 163 of the agenda discussed was the “Situation in the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan”.

With a statement at session On behalf of the Azerbaijan Republic,
the Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov made a statement,
Kazinform quotes AzerTaj.

Having expressed to General Assembly gratitude for support of the
initiative of the Azerbaijan side on inclusion of the question in
the agenda, he has noted that the UN Security Council has adopted in
1993 four Resolutions (#822, 853, 874 and 884), which are the basis
for settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.

The Resolution adopted by General Assembly (#48/114) titled “Urgent
international aid to the population of the Azerbaijan which have
become refugees and IDPs” promoted simplification of heavy humanitarian
condition in the country.

The Minister has emphasized, that Azerbaijan already more than 10 years
remains devoted to ceasefire regime that testifies to its aspiration
to peace settlement of the conflict.

The recent meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia
and Azerbaijan held in Prague with mediation the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs has instilled in us certain hopes.

During the meeting, the sides could discuss the basic questions
around of settlement of the conflict, including liberation of all
the occupied Azerbaijan territories, returning of the refugees to
the native lands, restoration of transport and other communications
between Armenia and Azerbaijan and gradual solution of the political
aspect of the conflict.

However, the messages when negotiations are carried out, on mass
resettlement of the population on the occupied territories, cause
concern of Azerbaijan.

If earlier the information on it had casual character, recently as
a result of organized efforts of the Republic of Armenia, the said
fact has acquired wide scale.

The said campaign, “Returning to Karabakh”, is carried out by the
department of the government of Armenia on questions of refugees and
IDPs, and is financed from the special budget allocated by official
Yerevan to separatist regime of Nagorny Karabakh.

Elmar Mammadyarov has told: “The greatest concern is caused by the
occupied region of Lachin.

As a result of the carried out Armenian program, here, now live 13
thousand Armenians.

Names of the Azerbaijan villages and settlements have been made
Armenian.

The organizations of the Armenian Diaspora, also taking direct
participation in the mentioned program, do not hide the purposes
directed on “creation of infrastructure in Nagorny Karabakh and
settling here its Armenian refugees”.

For creation of new settlements, the government of Armenia also uses
the armed forces on the occupied territories.

So, with their participation have been created two new settlements
in Kalbajar region of Azerbaijan.

The representative of Azerbaijan, stating that from Iran, Russia,
Lebanon and other countries, is carried out resettlement of hundreds
Armenians, has noted that in exchange of it, the government of Armenia
gives numerous privileges.

For example, for restoration belonging in the past to ! Azerbaijanis
of houses, the government renders material aid, allocates long-term
credits, exempts from taxes and so forth.

As a result of the carried out program, the government of Armenia
is going by 2010 to reach number of the Armenian population in the
occupied Azerbaijan territories, which before made up 20 thousand,
to 300 thousand people.

Elmar Mammadyarov has emphasized, that these and other facts have
found reflection in the report of the US State Department and in a
number of foreign media.

The policy of resettlement conducted by Armenia contradicts
corresponding resolutions of Security Council of the United Nations,
the international humanitarian law and, in particular, Geneva Treaty
1949, and confirms claim of Armenia on annexation of the Azerbaijan
lands to its territory.

Minister of Foreign Affairs has informed participants of session,
that on behalf of our country the draft resolution number ?/59/L.32
has been submitted to General Assembly.

By this offer, Azerbaijan is not going to include settlement of the
conflict on the agenda of the United Nations.

However, if the questions, interfering peace talks, will not be
eliminated, it will lead to humanitarian disaster.

Elmar Mammadyarov has emphasized that the international community has
in due time expressed its attitude to this question at such important
stage of negotiations that plays important role.

The Armenian side should remove the population from the occupied
territories and guarantee that this policy would not be continued.
Representatives of Turkey and Pakistan supported the position of
Azerbaijan at the session of General Assembly.

They have stated that settlement of the conflict is probably possible
only on the basis of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity
of the countries and norms of international law.

The representative of Armenia, having taken the floor, tried to deny
the facts submitted by the Azerbaijan side.

He has told that there is no necessity for intervention of General
Assembly of the United Nations for the given question.

The Armenian diplomat has stated that Nagorny Karabakh never was and
will not be a component of Azerbaijan.

The representative of the USA, speaking on behalf of the OSCE
co-chairs, has told, that concern of the Azerbaijan side could be
addressed in frameworks of OSCE.

He has supported the offer of our country on creation within the
framework of OSCE of the expert group to investigate the facts.

The representative of the USA has called Armenia and Azerbaijan
for continuation of peace talks jointly with co-chairs of the OSCE
Minsk Group.

Then, Chairman of General Assembly, having noted that discussions on
the text of the Resolution still continues, has stated that voting
and continuation would take place the other day.

Making comments on the said discussions on November 23, Minister of
Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov has told correspondent of AzerTAj:
“Beginning of discussions in the United Nations connected to situation
in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, is an important question.

It is difficult process.

To speak about results beforehand is not possible.

However, the Azerbaijan side could bring from the high tribune to
the international community the truth about policy of resettlement
pursued by Armenia.

We have stated that the position of Azerbaijan in the said question
remains constant – all our occupied territories should be liberated,
the people who have become IDPs, should return to the native lands”.