AZIMOV: WE OFFERED INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARMENIA DRAW BACK MILITARY POSTS AND WE SOLVE ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS CAUSED BY FIRES

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug. 15, 2006

Personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzey Kasprzyk
can officially notify his remarks on Azerbaijan’s activity to the
Foreign Ministry. His showing double standards regarding the fires
committed by Armenians are not right," Azerbaijani deputy foreign
minister Araz Azimov told journalists, APA reports.

The deputy foreign minister recommended Andrzey Kasprzyk to more
closely read the reports on fires.

"I can make my remarks to him directly not just through the media.

Andrzey Kasprzyk must not forget that Azerbaijan is concerned about
the damages of the fires. He should deal with this issue instead of
calumniating. The problem of fires should be solved. We are ready to
help Kasprzyk if he wants to deal with this," Mr.Azimov underlined.

He regarded the continuous arsons in the areas near the border and
in the occupied Azerbaijani territories as a factor proving Armenia’s
aggressive policy.

"As a state, Armenia does not make efforts to put out the fires.

Though Kasprzyk says he is not ecologist, in his report he said that
the fires were caused by climate. If he is not an ecologist, how can
he say that?" he said.

The deputy minister also said the Azerbaijani side raised the fire
problem at international organizations, including the UN, Council of
Europe and OSCE. We stated if Armenia does not want to put out the
fires in the areas near the border and in the occupied territories,
it should draw back its military posts 20 km. We are ready to solve
ecological problems in the occupied territories, where the Armenians
have drawn back from. If the fire does not stop, people will face
problems in living there, because, they cannot engage in agriculture
at least 5-10 years."