ARMENIA SHOULD GIVE UP ITS CLAIMS TO KEEP AZERBAIJANI TERRITORIES UNDER OCCUPATION TO ENSURE PEACE AND STABILITY: DEPUTY HEAD OF AWEU COMMITTEE

Trend News Agency
Sept 16 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 16 September / Trend News , corr. I.Alizade / The
Deputy Head of the Political Committee of the Assembly of the Western
European Union, British MP Michael Hancock, said that Armenia should
give up its claims to keep Azerbaijani territories under occupation
in order to ensure peace and stability. Today 20% of the Azerbaijani
territories have indeed been stolen. It is clear that Armenia has
occupied Azerbaijani territories and continues this occupation,
Hancock said to press conference in Baku on 16 September.

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.

Hancock considers that the international organizations, the Council
of Europe, OSCE, UNO, will be continuing supporting the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan as previous. While joining the international
organizations, Azerbaijan and Armenia had internationally recognized
documents, he said, adding that firstly it needs to understand the
Armenians that it is unacceptable to keep the territory of other
country under occupation.

It is important for Armenia to understand it because currently the
inflation in this country makes up 50%, the Armenians become more poor
day by day. Armenia should understand that Armenian people takes no
benefits from the continuation of the occupation. We consider that
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be resolved within territorial
integrity. If the conflict finds its solution, it will be beneficial
for Armenia as well, Hancock said.

He stated that his visit to Azerbaijan is aimed at studying the
situation in the country and position of the countrys leadership
regarding the processes in the region. Azerbaijan is known as a stable
country in the region, as well as plays an important role of bridge
between Europe and Asia, he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress