ANS TV, Azerbaijan
March 11 2010

Azeri minister says US vote on Armenian resolution may impact Karabakh conflict

[Presenter] So-called Armenian genocide bill passed by the Foreign
Relations Committee of the US Congress can influence the settlement of
the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, [Azerbaijani] Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov has said.

[Elmar Mammadyarov speaking to reporters] If some congressmen look
into the 100-year-old historical events, then they should also
consider the 20-year-old events such as the Xocali genocide. From that
point of view, I don’t think that any actions or resolutions can bring
peace and stability to Azerbaijan and Armenia, also to the South
Caucasus.

[Correspondent] Can there be any negative influence?

[Elmar Mammadyarov] Negative influence, in general, exists because we
think that if they pass one-sided resolution in the [US] Congress
despite the fact that Armenia occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijani
lands and left about one million refugees and IDPs in the region, then
it’s the biggest blow on the security. Therefore, we think that if the
US Congress is going to discuss peace and security in the South
Caucasus they should also look into the present situation and not just
the history.