AZERBAIJANI TOP OFFICIAL DISAGREES WITH THE U.S. ISSUING FUNDS TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH REGIME
TREND Information
10.07.09 15:12
"It is regrettable that the U.S. Congress has decided to allocate $10
million to the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh regime," said the Head of
the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration International Relations
Department, Novruz Mammadov, in his interview with the ruling New
Azerbaijan Party’s (NAP) website on July 10.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed
forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are currently
holding the peace negotiations.
Novruzov said Azerbaijan has repeatedly faced such injustice. "Our
country does not see an adequate response in return for cooperation
with the West. Unfortunately, we have not seen a fair position
from the West in return for our sincere cooperation since we gained
independence. But there is a positive attitude towards Armenia. The
907th amendment is an injust decision," the head of the department
said.
Novruzov commented that it is wrong that the U.S. have allocated $10
million to the separatist regime. "If this is humanitarian aid, then
I want to note that it is necessary to give it to the people who were
left homeless, and the number of which exceeds the number of people
currently living in Nagorno-Karabakh. If the U.S. wants to prove that
they are just, they must take into account the people who have become
internally displaced persons as a result of the aggression," he said.