Today.Az

Politics Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan made a statement on the
report made out by fact-finding mission of OSCE

24 March 2005 [14:27] – Today.Az

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan made statement on the
report made out by Fact-finding Mission of Minsk Group of OSCE,
about settling facts in the occupied territories.

It is stated in the information received from Ministry for Foreign
Affairs, that sending of Mission was possible by principal position
of Head Assembly of UNO.

“Such mission has been held for the first time, since the territories
of Azerbaijan were occupied and UNO Security Council made relevant
resolutions on the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.”

Saying that, the mission confirms the settling of the territories and
uneasiness of Azerbaijan, MFA told that, the report was drown out
on the basis of large geological material presented by Azerbaijan
side and was prepared on the base of real materials as a result of
the process. MFA states that, despite of all objective difficulties
(climate and relief, short of time, artificial obstacle to the motion
in the occupied territories etc) the Mission achieved in fulfilling
its mission generally.

“The Ministry thank to the head and members of the Mission for their
activities.” Most of the figures presented by Azerbaijan side, coincide
with the conclusion of the Mission, the statement says. For instance,
according to the initial information of Azerbaijan side, 20.000-23.000
people were settled in the occupied territories. The corresponding
indication of the Mission is more than 17.000 people. Expressing its
alarm on organized settling in the region of Lachin, Azerbaijan side
showed that, 13.000 people were settled there.

The Mission shows this figure to be 8.000-11.000 in the report of the
mission. Azerbaijan side stresses the gift of the co-chairs of Minsk
Group of OSCE to the work of the mission , the co-chairs call in
their advice basing on this report ” Not to settle in the occupies
territories and make changes in the demographic structure of the
region any more “.

They stated that: “If the situation remains like that for a long time,
this might make the peace process complicated. “They apply relevant
international organizations and ask to dislocate the settled people
from the occupied territories and to study material and finance
needs in the region for settling the internally displaced people to
their permanent territories. Azerbaijan side highly appreciates
the decision of the co-chairs of Minsk Group on remaining this
matter on the agenda. The participation of government of Armenia in
the organized settling of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan,
it must be noted that, though the Mission has not answered directly
this question, there are enough proofs in its report, as well as in
the materials presented by Azerbaijan, in the statements made by high
ranking officials of Republic of Armenia confirming the fact that,
government of Armenia directly supports the settling.

It is doubtless that, there are mutual relations and activity between
Armenia and the separatist regime. It was established in Upper Garabagh
region of Azerbaijan and it needs no additional commentary. This matter
has not been touched upon in the report of the Mission. As concerns
the Mission has not found direct proofs about the participation of
Armenia in the settling, Armenia cooperated with the separatists in
Upper Garabagh.

The attempts to remove Armenia out of the frame of this matter are
vague and it is groundless. In accordance with the international
juridical norms, Armenia as an invader is fully responsible for any
kind of activity in the occupied territory, as well as for settling
Armenians to the territories where they didn’t live in before. The
report and advice made by the co-chairs of Minsk Group of OSCE on the
basis of the report paves the way to investigating and solving the
problem after it. The Ministry expresses hope that, international
union will support it in this matter. /APA/