Armenians to mark 14th anniversary of separatist regime

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 2 2005

Baku, September 1, AssA-Irada — Armenians will mark the 14th
anniversary of the separatist regime of Upper Garabagh, Azerbaijan’s
territory under Armenian occupation, on Friday. The event will be
attended by the Armenian President Robert Kocharian.

According to a program prepared by an Armenian government commission,
the event will start in Shusha. Armenian officials will then visit
the monument complex of the Garabagh war victims in Khankandi.

Armenians even invited Russian music stars to the ‘celebrations’
to add ‘glamour’ to the event. Sports competitions are a part of the
event that will conclude with fireworks.

Chairman of Yurddash Party, MP Mais Safarli has said that the
Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry should adopt a statement over Kocharian’s
visit to the self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh republic and all
international organizations be informed of this.

“Visiting the self-proclaimed republic at a time the Azeri and Armenian
presidents are in talks on the conflict settlement is hypocrisy”,
he said in parliament on Thursday.

Safarli said that by taking this step, the Armenian president is
delivering a message that he is ‘not interested in achieving peace’.*