FOREIGN MINISTER OF AZERBAIJAN IS CONCERNED WITH THE ABSENCE OF RESULTS IN NEGOTIATIONS FOR SETTLEMENT OF CONFLICT WITH ARMENIA UNDER THE AEGIS OF OSCE

ArmInfo Agency, Armenia
Oct 4 2007

ArmInfo. The Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov delivered
a speech during the general political discussion of the 62nd session
of the UN General Assembly during which he drew attention to that
"Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains the most
serious security challenge" in the region. As it is stated in UN’s
official site, the minister said that the negotiations for the conflict
settlement, which have been held within the frames of OSCE since
1992, so far have had no success. Elmar Mammadyarov once again told
"about 20% occupied territories of Azerbaijan". He recalled that "the
conflict led to mass displacement of people and presently, there are
about 1mln refugees and internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan".

The foreign minister said that Armenia keeps not complying with the
resolutions of the Security Council, destroying everything, which is
associated with Azerbaijan’s heritage on the occupied territory and
carrying out illegal activity there, as before. "UNO mustn’t allow such
actions", the minister said. He emphasized that, in the settlement
of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, it is
necessary to base on the principles of international law and four
resolutions of the Security Council, which foresee the sovereignty
and territorial integrity of his country.

"From this platform I want to urge the Armenian nation to accept that
its policy of peace-breaking and destabilization of the region has
very dangerous, counterproductive and destructive consequences for
the prospects of Armenia’s progress. I am sure that Azerbaijan will
restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is only a
matter of time", Elmar Mammadyarov emphasized.

The Azerbaijani representative told about the efforts of the
authorities to ensure complete transparency and accountability in
extractive industries and Azerbaijan’s contribution in ensuring global
security of energy supply. He also told about economic conversions in
Azerbaijan, poverty and unemployment rate reduction, the growth of the
population’s prosperity and emphasized that all this was not only due
to the oil and gas incomes, but also to the government’s consistent
course and its commitment to protect the rights of the investors.