SINCERITY OF ARMENIAN NEGOTIATORS IS QUESTIONED BY SUCH CLEAR PROVOCATIONS AS A DECLARED INTENTION TO HOLD A SO-CALLED "CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM" – AZERI FOREIGN MINISTER
Author: A.Ismaylova
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Dec 5 2006
The sincerity of Armenian negotiators is questioned by such clear
provocations as a declared intention of Armenian separatists to hold a
so-called "constitutional referendum" in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh,
the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, stated at the
14th meeting of the Council of OSCE Foreign Ministers, Trend reports.
We view the UN General Assembly resolution-sponsored OSCE-led
Environmental Assessment Mission to the fire-affected territories of
Azerbaijan as a good example of rapid and effective practical reaction
to an urgent and complex problem faced by a participating State.
"We request the Chairman-in-Office to submit the Mission’s Report
to the UN General Assembly and its Member-States, and call on the
organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to launch a
joint process of preparation for a long-term Environmental Operation
in the fire-affected lands as it is envisaged by the UNGA resolution,"
Mammadyarov said.
"To my deep regret, I still cannot extend the same level of enthusiasm
to the whole process of settlement of the conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan. Despite increased activity demonstrated throughout this
year by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office
and the parties involved we have not yet achieved the irreversible
solution," Azerbaijani Foreign Minister said.
In addition, he stressed that there is no alternative to finding
solution in the framework of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. At
the appropriate stage of the settlement process it will be possible
to discuss this issue by the whole population of the Nagorno-Karabakh
region of Azerbaijan. "Proceeding from the standards of democracy,
rule of law and human rights, we believe that process of definition
of a status shall take place on an equal basis, with direct and full
participation of entire population of the region, which are both
Armenian and Azerbaijani communities," he stated.
Unfortunately, the sincerity of Armenian negotiators is questioned
by such clear provocations as a declared intention of Armenian
separatists to hold a so-called "constitutional referendum" in the
occupied Nagorno-Karabakh. "This is yet another unconstructive step
taken by Armenian side in its attempt to consolidate and camouflage
the results of its illegal activities. Azerbaijan shall never accept
such illegal acts of the Armenian side, which are based on notorious
practice of fait accompli and fully contradict the ongoing efforts to
bring durable peace and stability to the region," Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister considers.