STATEMENTS OF ARMENIAN SIDE REGARDING REFERENDUM, KALBAJAR AND LACHIN TAKE SPECULATIVE AND PSEUDO CHARACTER – AZERI DEPUTY FM
Author: S.Agayeva

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
July 3 2006

Many statements of the Armenian side, as well as regarding the
referendum, status of Kalbajar and Lachin take speculative and pseudo
character, Araz Azimov, the deputy foreign minister of Azerbaijan,
told journalists on July 3, Trend reports.

According to Azimov, the Azeri side has repeatedly stated that only
national referendums may be held in the territory of Azerbaijan
and this position has been exactly defined in the Constitution
of Azerbaijan. Azeri government is not going to stand beyond this
position and all speculations in this direction are lie, told Azimov.

He remembered that the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh didn’t live
alone, but together with the Azerbaijanis, and if we speak about
the democracy, then the demography of the region should be restored
and Azerbaijanis should return to Nagorno-Karabakh. For this it is
important to ensure the relevant peaceful conditions and release of
Azerbaijan’s occupied territories. "It a normal logical process,"
Azimov added. "The settlement of political questions – appointment of
the status of both peoples’ joint living should be made democratically,
within Law," Azimov told.

Azimov emphasized that the statements about the issue that as though
Kalbajar and Lachin will remain under the control of Armenian side is
absurd because the talks on release of these districts have been held
from the first day to the present time. Nobody will allow Armenians
to keep any territory of Azerbaijan under control, Azimov stressed.

According to Azimov, Lachin problem may be resolved through the joint
use of the road infrastructure of the district for relation between
Armenia and Azerbaijan, Armenians and Azerbaijanis in Nagorno-Karabakh,
as well as with Nakchivan Autonomous Republic.

"The statements regarding Kalbajar will be lie because the exits
from this district to Nagorno-Karabakh will be kept under a proper
control. An international peaceful contingent or controller will be
placed there, and there will be no danger and threat," Azimov added,
mentioning the importance of ensuring the security of Azerbaijanis
in Nagorno-Karabakh. "There could be no one-sided demilitarization
in the control zone. And the demilitarization should be mutual,
and Armenian armed forces’ remaining there is impossible," told Azimov.