Today, Azerbaijan
May 20 2006
Azerbaijan made a protest against former OSCE MG Co-Chair’s statement
20 May 2006 [21:03] – Today.Az
Chief of the presidential administration’s international affairs
department, Novruz Mammadov held a press conference related to the
recent statements on Azerbaijan made by former Russian co-chair
(until 1996) of OSCE Minsk Group Vladimir Kazimirov.
Mammadov said that Kazimirov have Armenian relations and he has
financial relations with Armenians stressing that confidence in the
Russian diplomat was lost in 1992-93. Mammadov also noted that at
times Kazimirov made biased statements on Azerbaijan and sometimes he
even forged relevant international documents when he was sponsored by
Armenians.
“He even tells a lie by saying that the principle of nations
determining their fates is same with the principle of territorial
integrity of states according to the UN Convention of 1948.
Kazimirov’s statements are contrary to diplomatic ethic. I think he
has gone mad, he is too old to comprehend what he says,” the
presidential administration’s official said.
Mammadov also noted that Kazimirov’s such statements may hinder the
process of settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh problem. On the other
hand, stating that these statements are false, the department
director considers as the parties to the conflict do not take into
account these false statements, these factors will not have negative
impact on the settlement process.
“I don’t think these opinions coincide with Russia’s official foreign
policy. We have less belief that the old Kazimirov will have strong
logic,” he said.
Earlier Pan-Armenian Information Agency published Kazimirov’s
statement, according to which the late Azerbaijani President Heydar
Aliyev allegedly realized that it was impossible to liberate Nagorno
Karabakh, but only the surrounding areas. Stating that the Karabakh
problem had negative psychological impact on Azerbaijanis, Kazimirov
stressed that the problem cannot possibly be solved for the benefit
of Azerbaijan.
On Friday Russian Charge d’Affaires Pyotr Burdikin was invited to
Foreign Affairs Ministry and given an oral note with regard to the
above-mentioned statement.
Foreign Ministry press and information center head Tahir Taghizade
has informed APA that Khalaf Khalafov, Deputy Minister, has met with
Mr. Burdikin and made a protest against such a statement issued by
ex-official of Russia. The Russian diplomat, in his turn said he
would convey anxiety of Baku to official Russia.
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