"ECHO": ON THE VERGE OF CONFRONTATION

Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
Oct 17 2006

What does Iran attempt to build on occupied territories of Azerbaijan?

Today authorities of Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) continue
construction of dam at frontier river Araz, the region of historical
bridge Khudaferin, which unites occupied Jabrail region of our
country and South Azerbaijan. As head of Committee on Defense of
National Movement of South Azerbaijan, Jahandar Bayoglu, informed
"Echo" referring to local population of right bank (Iranian part,
author’s remark) of frontier river Araz, there are working heavy
technics and engineering installations.

It should be pointed out that recently "Echo" has published statement
of the Ministry of Energy of Iran, Parviz Fatahi, who during his
visit to Yerevan (September 28, 2006 – author’s remark) promised
to discuss construction process of dam "Khodaaferin" (Khudaferin,
author’s remark ) with Armenian part.

In this case the matter concerns the area neighboring Khudaferin bridge
on Araz river built in XII-XIII centuries between North Azerbaijan
and South Azerbaijan (Iran of today, author’s remark). On Azerbaijani
part, bridge is situated on now occupied Jabrail region.

Moreover, on the right bank of Araz river of this area there is
Iranian town Khoda-Aferin.

In turn, as Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan informed
referring to Embassy of our country to Iran, the said information is
denied by Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran.

Chief of administration of information policy and press of Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Tair Tagizade, informs that authorities
of Tehran make believe that any information on any works carried out
by Iran on occupied territories of Azerbaijan is false.

At the same time chief of administration of Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Tehran, stresses that Iranian part
recognizes that Iran and Armenia have energy project "being realized
on officially recognized territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan".

Head of the Committee, Jahandar Bayoglu, was not satisfied with
position of head of diplomatic representatives of Azerbaijan to
Tehran. Accordingly to him, our diplomat "decided to insist on denying
the fact of construction of reservoir". Head of the Committee thinks
that such conduct of Ambassador contradicts to national interests
of Azerbaijan. As J. Bayoglu underlines words of Iranian officials
(P. Fatahi, author’s remark) concerning ongoing works on construction
of dam, are confirmed by our officials, living on the region near
Khudaferin bridge, on Iranian bank of Araz.

In this connection he urges authorities of the country to clarify this
issue and to explain what is really going on in the region neighboring
Khudaferin bridge. Bayoglu stresses that local population say that
construction works are not large-scale.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan informed that they intend
"to be content with official response of Iran". "If such information
concerning continuation of construction works is received in future,
then our Ambassador to Iran will have additional tasks", Tagizade says.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs also informs that if after official
assurance of Iran, Azerbaijani part will make effort to clarify any
details again, then accordingly to international practice this stage
will be understood as rather confrontational one.

–Boundary_(ID_8LB6q+wgMJPOnvlQc2h3zg)–