YEREVAN’S OCCUPATION ACCUSATIONS TOWARDS BAKU ‘ILLOGICAL’

Interfax
Feb 17 2010
Russia

The Armenian foreign minister’s remarks accusing Azerbaijan of
occupying its own former Mardakert, Martuni and Shahumian districts
are "illogical", Azeri Foreign Ministry spokesman Elkhan Polukhov
told Interfax.

"It is difficult to comment on the alogisms of the foreign minister
of Armenia because a country’s occupation of its own territory cannot
be explained by any international legal documents," Polukhov said.

Azerbaijan has been following the principles of international law at
all negotiations, he said.

"Our country has been admitted to all international organizations
within the borders of the former Azeri Soviet Socialist Republic.

These borders have been recognized by all states in the world,"
the spokesman said.

The statements made by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
evidently target Armenia’s audience, he said.

"If the authorities of Armenia stop using such ephemeral alogisms,
this will help speed up the pace of the negotiating process and secure
lasting peace in the region," Polukhov said.

Commenting on Nalbandian’s complaints that Azerbaijan does not allow
the self-proclaimed republic of Nagorno-Karabakh to join the peace
talks, Polukhov said that the Madrid documents confirm the principle
of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

"The Azeri and Armenian communities will be asked to help determine
the status of Nagorno-Karabakh within Azerbaijan’s borders after
preliminary agreements are reached," he said.