AZERBAIJAN INDIGNANT AT VLADIMIR ZHIRINOVSKY’S PROPOSAL FOR INTEGRATING
NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC IN CIS

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12. ARMINFO. Azerbaijan is indignant at the proposal
bo Vice Speaker of Russia’s State Duma Vladimir Zhirinovsky for
integrating Nagorno Karabakh Republic into the CIS.

To remind, in his recent statement Zhirinovsky also called Nagorny
Karabakh a historical Armenian land. But this is not his only such
statement. A few days ago Zhirinovsky made a statement about Kazakhstan
in which Almaty has seen calls for ethnic strife and disrespect for
national dignity. As a result the Kazakh FM has proclaimed Zhirinovsky
persona non grata.

Azeri MP Mais Safarli says that Azerbaijan should follow Kazakhstan’s
example. Moreover if attempting to enter Azerbaijan Zhirinovsky must
be arrested.

The Azeri FM is more amicable. FM representative Tair Tagizade agrees
that Zhirinovsky’s statement on Kazakhstan was insulting but there was
no insult of the Azeri people in his statement on nagorny Karabakh. He
just showed that he does not know the history, roots and development
of the Azeri-Armenian conflict and is completely incompetent in the
politics. “We can just regret at his statements,” says Tagizade. But
these statements should not, cannot and will not affect Russia’s
position of recognition of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and
that country’s efforts in the framework of OSCE Minsk Group.