BAKU IS SURE THAT OSCE MISSION WILL CONFIRM THE FACTS OF SETTLEMENT
OF THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF AZERBAIJAN BY THE ARMENIANS

BAKU, FEBRUARY 9. ARMINFO-TURAN. The OSCE mission for reveal of facts
of settlement by Armenians of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan
completed the first stage of its work. This the opinion of the Deputy
Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Araz Azimov expressed to journalist
while commenting on the results of the trip of the mission to the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan. During the next stage the mission
must analyze the collected materials and prepare report. “We expect
it will be done in the near future and the report will be submitted
to the OSCE Minsk group mission, and then to the permanent Board of
OSCE”, Azimov said.

He expressed sureness that facts submitted to the mission by the
Azeri side were confirmed. In particular, the materials from open
and other sources on settlement in the occupied territories of
20-23 people were submitted to the mission. But even if the mission
revealed at least half or one-third of the figure it confirms the
fact of illegal settlement, Azimov said. He told that in accordance
with the Geneva convention of 1949, the occupant does not have the
right to settle or change the demographic situation in the occupied
territories. Azimov noted groundlessness of the arguments of the
Armenian side that the Armenian living before in Baku, Ganja and
Sumgayit were settled there. He told that international humanitarian
law prohibits settlement in the occupied territories the people which
have not lived there before regardless of their origin.

Azimov did not exclude that they would continue settlement of the
occupied territories. He thinks that it can be connected with the
coming liberation of the occupied territories or the question on
withdrawal of people illegally settled there will be brought up, he
noted. Speaking about the significance and the results of the mission
Azimov said that by initiating this question Azerbaijan warned Armenia
that it will never reconcile with annexation of its territory.

Azimov does not exclude that in the end final assessment will be
given to the conclusions of the mission. “However the main goal for
Azerbaijan is liberation of all occupied territories and Azerbaijan
considers the problem of settlement just in that context”, Azimov said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress