Trend, Azerbaijan
May 14 2010

Azerbaijan’s ministry of foreign affairs makes statement on so-called
‘parliament elections’ in Nagorno-Karabakh

Azerbaijan, Baku, May 14 /Trend/

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan made a
statement on so-called "parliament elections" in Nagorno-Karabakh, the
Ministry’s press service reported.

According to the reports circulated by the mass media outlets of the
Republic of Armenia so-called "parliament elections" are being
arranged to take place in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic
of Azerbaijan on 23 May 2010.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan
reiterates in this regard that the unrecognized separatist regime in
the occupied territories of Azerbaijan represents nothing but an
illegal structure established by Armenia on the basis of ethnic
cleansing of Azerbaijani population. The so-called "elections" are
conducted in order to camouflage the annexation policy of Armenia and
are aimed at consolidation of the results of the continued occupation
of the Azerbaijani territories," the statement says.

Conduct of such "elections" gravely violates the relevant provisions
of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the norms and
principles of international law, since they are held in absence of the
original Azerbaijani population of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, and,
therefore shall have no legal effect whatsoever.

"Any kind of elections in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic
of Azerbaijan may be recognized as fair and free once the expelled
Azerbaijani population takes full, direct and equal part in their
conduct in lawful and democratic environment equally to the Armenian
population of the region. Holding such elections will be possible
after the withdrawal of the Armenian occupying forces, normalization
of life in the region, creation of necessary conditions for
restoration of the dialogue and cooperation between the Armenian and
Azerbaijani communities of Nagorno-Karabakh," the statement says.

The statement says that the Republic of Azerbaijan calls upon the
Armenian side to stop its destructive practice of illegal steps, which
does not have any prospects, and instead to demonstrate a good will
and take a constructive position in the negotiation process, which has
dynamically evolved through the last year, in order to find a soonest
and durable solution to the conflict on the basis of the norms and
principles of international law.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress