ARAZ AZIMOV: YURI MERZLYAKOV HAS EXCEEDED HIS AUTHORITY MAKING SUCH IRRESPONSIBLE STATEMENT BEFORE THE PRESIDENTS’ MEETING

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 8 2007

Yuri Merzlyakov has no right, motivation and authority to introduce
Nagorno Karabakh as a party to the current conflict. Azerbaijani
Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov told journalists, APA reports.

Saying that Azerbaijan protested this statement Araz Azimov said OSCE
Minsk Group co-chair Yuri Merzlykov’s opinions are not coinciding
with those of Russia’s.

"This statement by Merzlyakov contradicts both international legal
norms and principles and Russia’s – one of the mediators in the
settlement of the conflict- official opinion. Russia has stated its
opinion many times at high levels. Moscow’s recognizes Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity and sovereignty," the Deputy Minister said.

Armenian press disseminated information on Yuri Merzlyakov’s statements
in Yerevan in which he said "though Russia has not recognized Nagorno
Karabakh as independent state it does not mean that Russia recognizes
it as part of Azerbaijan". Araz Azimov said he will investigate
this issue seriously. "It is contrary to Russia’s mediator role and
international norms. If we find evidences that Mr Merzlyakov sounded
such statement we will call him to take responsibility. As this was
sounded before the Presidents’ [Azerbaijani and Armenian] meeting we
consider it as a provocation.

We assess it as provocation and irresponsible act," Mr. Azimov said.