Azeri deputy speaker sees European resolution on Karabakh as “step forward”
Bilik Dunyasi news agency
31 Jan 05
BAKU
The decision [resolution] of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe [PACE] on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict represents special
importance for Azerbaijan, Deputy Speaker Ziyafat Asgarov has told
journalists.
Although some provisions of the resolution do not completely meet the
interests of Azerbaijan, it is still an important step forward in
resolving the problem, he said.
PACE rapporteur David Atkinson has said in an interview [with the BBC]
that the principle of self-determination of nations cannot be applied
to the Karabakh Armenians because at the time of Azerbaijan’s and
Armenia’s entry into the Council of Europe, Nagornyy Karabakh was a
constituent part of Azerbaijan.
The Armenians have already exercised the right to self-determination
once by establishing a state on historically Azerbaijani
territories. Ziyafat Asgarov said Azerbaijan could not agree to that
for the second time and international law would not let that
happen. He added that the document would further strengthen
Azerbaijan’s positions in international organizations.
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly should express its attitude to the
problem as well, Asgarov said.
[Passage omitted: background details]