AZERI AMBASSADOR TO US DEMANDS THAT US CONGRESS DO NOT
INCREASE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO NAGORNY KARABAKH

YEREVAN, AUGUST 20. ARMINFO. Azeri Ambassador to the US Khafiz
Pashayev has sent a letter to the US Congress where he exposes the
actions of congressmen Franck Pallone and Joe Knollenberg, APA (Baku)
reports with reference to the Azeri Embassy in Washington.

Pashayev is displeased with Pallone’s and Knollenberg’s asking US
President George Bush to increase the US financial assistance to
Karabakh and the Congress to support this proposal. Pashayev says
that Pallone’s and Knollenberg’s appeal does not correctly reflect
the situation in the region and the position of the international
community on the issue of Nagorno Karabakh status.

Nagorny Karabakh has never been sovereign state or part of Armenia
and is recognized by the UN and other international organizations as
part of Azerbaijan an so the US’s economic and political steps should
comply with the legal, political and economic interests of
Azerbaijan, says Pashayev. He reiterates that “Armenia has occupied
Nagorny Karabakh and 7 Azeri districts this resulting over 1 mln
refugees.”

In conclusion Pashayev urges the congressmen to respect the US
official policy recognizing Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. While
Azerbaijan and Armenia are holding peace talks any support of the
initiative of Pallone and Knollenberg can deal a blow on Minsk
process especially as “Azerbaijan is already suffering from the two
congressmen’s initiative,” says Pashayev implying Section 907 to
Freedom Supporting Act.