BAKU TO MAKE OSCE MINSK GROUP’S RUSSIAN CO-CHAIRMAN ANSWERABLE

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
June 8 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / Òrend corr S. Aghayeva / Azerbaijan can hold
the Russian co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Yuri Merzlakov,
responsible due to his recent statement that Russia does not recognize
Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister,
Araz Azimov, stated to journalists in Baku on the 8th of June.

According to the data provided by Novosti-Armenia news agency on the
8th of June, the Russian co-chairman made the statement in Armenia.

He said, "For the time being Nagorno-Karabakh has not been recognized
on an international level as an independent state. Russia also has not
recognized the independence of Karabakh and recognizes territorial
sovereignty of Azerbaijan. However, it does not mean that Russia
recognizes Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan."

"In case the Russian co-chairman actually made such a statement,
Azerbaijan protests and considers Merzlakov to be exceeding his
authority," Azimov said. Merzlakov does not have any ground on making
such a statement contradicting international norms and principles.

"The statement also contradicts the official position of Russia,
which is a co-chair of the Minsk Group," deputy minister noted.

Azimov regarded the statement made before the forthcoming
meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents scheduled for
Saint-Petersburg as an irresponsible and provocative move. In case
the statement is proved, Azerbaijan will make Merzlakov answerable.

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