Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Feb 16 2005

Armenians in Garabagh to be granted Azerbaijan citizenship after
occupied lands are freed – Deputy FM

Baku, February 15, AssA-Irada

The Armenian population, who will continue to live in Upper Garabagh
after liberation of the occupied lands of Azerbaijan, will be granted
Azerbaijan citizenship, Deputy Foreign Minister, the President’s
special envoy on the Upper Garabagh conflict Araz Azimov has told
the local ATV channel.

“In this case, official Yerevan must not be concerned over the fate
of Armenians living in Garabagh, as Azerbaijan does not wage a war
against its citizens,” he stressed.

Azimov underlined that 30,000 Armenians are currently living in
Azerbaijan, whose security are being highly ensured. “The Azerbaijanis,
who were driven out from the occupied lands, must definitely return
to their homes under international legal norms,” he said. Commenting
on the issue of ensuring security of Armenians in Garabagh, Azimov
underlined that it is possible only on one condition that “the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is restored”.*