BAKU DISMISSES ARMENIAN CHARGES OF OCCUPATION

news.az
Feb 17 2010
Azerbaijan

Elkhan Polukhov A war of words continued today between the Azerbaijani
and Armenian foreign ministries.

Baku has dismissed as illogical charges by the Armenian foreign
minister that it is occupying the districts of Martakert, Martuni
and Shahumyan.

Parts of these districts beyond the boundaries of Nagorno-Karabakh
remain de facto part of Azerbaijan.

"It’s hard to comment on the illogical statements by the Armenian
foreign minister, as nowhere does any international document talk
about the occupation of one’s own country," Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry spokesman Elkhan Polukhov told Interfax-Azerbaijan today.

He said that Azerbaijan is guided in all negotiations by the norms and
principles of international law which do not use the term "occupation
of one’s own land".

"Our country has been accepted in all international organizations
within the borders of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic,
and these borders are recognized by all nations of the world,"
Polukhov said.

He said that Nalbandian’s comments were aimed at a domestic audience.

"If the Armenian leadership stopped using this kind of ephemeral,
illogical statements, this would help expedite the negotiating process
and achieve lasting peace in the region," the spokesman said.

Commenting on Nalbandian’s claims that Azerbaijan is holding up the
peace process by preventing the participation of the Nagorno-Karabakh
republic in the talks, Polukhov said that the Madrid principles for
a settlement enshrined the inviolability of the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan.

"Both communities will be involved in determining the status of
Nagorno-Karabakh within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,
after a preliminary agreement," Polukhov said.