Journal of Turkish Weekly
Feb 3 2005

US Supports Azerbaijan in Karabakh Issue

The United States (US) does not recognize Upper Karabakh as an
independent state and supports Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity,
according to a report released by the US Department of State on
Monday.

“The United States does not recognize Upper Karabakh as an
independent state, as its authorities are not recognized either by
the international community or the US. The US supports Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity and believes that the future status of Upper
Garabagh should be determined through talks between the parties.”

The US report, which cites key figures and the history of the
Karabakh conflict, says the United States continues to play an active
mediating role in resolving the problem in peace and supports seeking
settlement options within the OSCE Minsk Group.

The report also says that the armed conflict over Upper Karabakh
continued between 1990 and 1994. After the ceasefire was reached in
1994, Armenian armed forces controlled Upper Karabakh and the
adjacent extensive territories. As a result of military action and
the ousting of Azerbaijanis from their homes, over a million people
became refugees and displaced persons.

Apart from Karabakh, Armenian forces occupied other Azerbaijani
towns. Armenian State moreover does not recognise Turkey’s
territorial integrity. The Armenian Constitution and Declaration of
Independence call Turkey’s Eastern provinces ‘Western Armenia’. In
addition, the Armenian irredentism towards Turkey, Azerbaijan and
Georgia is strong.