Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Jan 30 2004

Ministry Says, 23,000 Armenians Settled in Occupied Territories

by Turan 30/01/2005 12:28

Armenia is directly involved in settlement of the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan, Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan told
reporters when commenting on the results of the meeting with the
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk group and the members of the
international mission.

According Azimov, the representatives of the Foreign Ministry,
Ministry of National Security, State Border Service, Land Committee
took part in the meeting.

During the meeting the Azeri side submitted the commission video- and
audio materials testifying settling of the occupied territories and
geographic maps.
`Settlement of the territories is taking place with direct
participation of Armenia,’ Azimov said. `Approximately 23,000 people
were settled there. The policy of settlement is taking place in
different forms.’

Azimov notes that settlement of the occupied territories does not
positively affect the course of the talks of settling the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. The information on the use of the occupied
territories for illegal drug trafficking and organized crime was also
submitted to the commission.

According to Azimov, the commission will attend the occupied
territories in several days. First they will visit Kelbajar and
Lachin regions and then will visit the other regions, including
Shusha. The researches will last 20 days and on the basis of
materials they will prepare report which will be submitted to the
OSCE Minsk Group and to the Permanent Commission of OSCE in Vienna.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress