OSCE expert group may be set up to disclose Armenia’s illegal settlement policy

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Nov 26 2004

Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and his Deputy Araz Azimov held
a private meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Steven Mann,
Yuri Merzlyakov and Henry Jacolin in New York on Wednesday.

The present-day situation with the talks over the settlement of
the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper Garabagh was in focus of
the meeting.

The Azerbaijani side expressed concerns over the settlement of
Armenians in the occupied lands of Azerbaijan.

Minister Mammadyarov said that 13,000 Armenians have been settled in
the Lachin District alone.

“Armenia is violating relevant resolutions adopted by the UN Security
Council and international humanitarian laws and poses a threat to
the OSCE-mediated peace talks.”

The Minister said that an independent expert group should be set up
within the OSCE to disclose the facts related to Armenia’s policy of
settlement in the occupied Azeri lands.*