ALL ARMENIANS MUST LEAVE AZERBAIJAN’S OCCUPIED DISTRICT OF LACHIN: DEPUTY MINISTER

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug 3 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend K.Ramazanova / All Armenians who are
residing in the Azerbaijan occupied district of Lachin must leave
the district, said the Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Araz
Azimov, on 2 August commenting on the information that a large part
of the Armenian population has already left Lachin.

According to Azimov, the Armenians are residing in this territory
illegally. "This cannot continue. Azerbaijanis returning to their
native land is a principle issue. Those who do not reside in their
native land cannot feel comfortable," he said. Azimov stressed that the
Azerbaijanis will return to their native land and will be prepared to
co-exist peacefully with the Armenians. "However, relevant conditions
need to be created for this," Azerbaijani diplomat said.

The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus began in 1988
due to territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Armenia has
occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani land including the Nagorno-Karabakh
region and its seven surrounding Districts. Since 1992, these
territories have been under the occupation of the Armenian Forces. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time
the active hostilities ended. The Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
( Russia, France and USA) are currently holding peaceful negotiations.