STATEMENT OF THE NKR MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
18 July 2006

>>From the beginning of June 2006 the fires on Nagorno Karabakh
territory bordering with Azerbaijan have been taking place. The
situation is a subject of serious anxiety for Karabakh authorities as
it poses a threat for the security of the NKR and its population. A
special commission for studying circumstances and revealing reasons
of the inflammation was established in the NKR. Representatives of
ministries and departments responsible for security issues were
in the commission. For the purpose of localization the centers of
the inflammation and non-admission of fire spreading the subunits
of fire-prevention service and the NKR Department for Emergency
Situations, as well as the leadership of local administrations and
population were mobilized. A twenty-four-hour duty was organized
in all the communities with the object of averting emergency
situations. Nevertheless, the situation in these regions, which in
connection with the ongoing fires is becoming worse, is fraught with
unfavorable long-term consequences for agriculture and food security
of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The number and area of the fires
of wheat fields in the adjoining with Azerbaijan territories have
sharply risen. As a result of the work of the NKR special commission,
the incontestable data, indicating the fact that the reasons of
the fires were intentional hostile activities of Azerbaijani side,
were received. By these actions the official Baku pursues a goal to
undermine the economy of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and prevent from
advancing development. For screening its activities the authorities
of Azerbaijan from the very outset launched a wide-ranging propaganda
trying to lay the blame on Karabakh side both in local and foreign
mass media, which is a continuation of a propaganda and psychological
war against the people of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and is an
awkward attempt to draw a veil over the aggression act. We would
like to remind that as early as 2001 the leadership of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic suggested through the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen
on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement a package of steps on
establishing confidence between the parties to the conflict, in
particular, cooperation on non-admission of ignition of pastures
and agricultural lands in the adjoining regions to Azerbaijani
side. Unfortunately, at that time the initiative of the official
Stepanakert was not supported in Baku and was not honored with proper
attention by the OSCE Minsk Group. Moreover, as early as June 15,
2006, the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed to the Office
of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in Office with a
request to conduct a crisis-monitoring in the territory bordering with
Azerbaijan to estimate the real situation on the spot and disprove
far-fetched accusations of Azerbaijani side. We would like to draw
the attention of the international community and, in particular, the
co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group to the circumstance that if they do
not to take measures concerning the hostile activities of Azerbaijan
the official Stepanakert will have the right to undertake adequate
corresponding activities for ensuring security of the republic. July
17, 2006

AA. 18-07-2006