AZERBAIJANI EMBASSY IN IRAN INVESTIGATES IRANIAN CITIZENS’ MILITARY SERVICE IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH
Trend News Agency
10.09.2007 15:17:38
Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr S. Aghayeva / Azerbaijani
Embassy in Iran is investigating the issue on Iranian citizens’
military service in Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh region occupied
by Armenia. The embassy was charged with the task by the Azerbaijan
Foreign Ministry, according to the spokesman for the Foreign Ministry,
Khazar Ibrahim.
Armenian religious organizations operating in Iran by deception send
Iranian citizens of Iranian origin to the territories controlled
by the separatists and make them serve in military subdivisions of
fictitious Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, according to Iranian media.
Iranian military men serving nearby the occupied Azerbaijani
territories have recently detained two Armenians who passed the
Iranian-Armenian border.
Both of the detained persons turned to be Iranian citizens residing
in Isfaghan. One of them, Mikhek Teymuryan, said that he had gone
to Nagorno-Karabakh falling under the propaganda spread by Armenian
religious centre of Khalifagari-ye Arameni. According to him, the
centre promises a land lot and a house in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well
as necessary conditions for living in any European country, to each
Armenian having served a year in the separatist army. Teymuryan said
that he had served a year and a half in the separatist army but did
not receive what he was promised.
"The problem should be thoroughly studied and only after that
any comments will be possible," Azerbaijan Deputy Foreign Minister
previously said to journalists. According to him, there are agreements
between the two countries stipulating for no damage to each other.
Khalafov believes the Iranian side is observing the obligations.
The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus began in 1988
due to territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Armenia has
occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani land including the Nagorno-Karabakh
region and its seven surrounding Districts. Since 1992, these
territories have been under the occupation of the Armenian Forces. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time
the active hostilities ended. The Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
(Russia, France and USA) are currently holding peaceful negotiations.