AMBASSADOR: WE DOUBT IRANIAN OFFICIALS’ REFUTING THE REPORTS ABOUT IRANIAN ARMENIANS’ SERVING IN THE OCCUPIED AZERBAIJANI TERRITORIES
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 28 2007
"Though Iranian officials refute the reports about Iranian Armenians
serving in Armenian-occupied Azerbaijani territories, we doubt it.
This is not the first time that Iranian officials refute the facts
regarding Armenians," Azerbaijani ambassador extraordinary and
plenipotentiary to Iran Abbasali Hasanov told APA.
The ambassador underlined that it is an irrefutable fact that
Armenians living all over the world, as well as in Iran have hand in
the occupation of Azerbaijani territories.
"Armenians living all over the world had hand in the aggression
against us, in order to establish an Armenian state in Azerbaijani
territories. Historical sources prove it. Thousands of Armenian
families were resettled in Azerbaijan after Turkmanchay treaty, and
after Azerbaijan was occupied by Soviet Russia. So, Armenian state
was established in Azerbaijani territories. Armenians commit acts
against Azerbaijan. And it is irrefutable that the Armenians living
in Iran also have hand in it," he said.
Abbasali Hasanov also noted that Iranian Armenians participated in
the chess competition held in Khankandi several years ago.
"Two or three years ago, when chess competition was held in Khankandi,
we asked Iranian officials whether their citizens participated in the
competition. State officials persistently refuted the fact, but when
the names of the participants were publicized, it became known that
several Iranian Armenians participated in the competition," he said.
The ambassador said that he had been in Iranian Foreign Ministry
several times and demanded investigation of the problem.
APA reported quoting diplomatic sources that Armenian religious
organizations operating in Iran deceive Iranian citizens of Armenian
origin and send them to serve in "Nagorno Karabakh Republic" armed
forces in the territories under the control of separatist regime.
According to the information, Iranian servicemen detained two
Armenian trespassers in the region bordering on the occupied
Azerbaijani territories. They were defined to be Iranian citizens,
Isfahan Armenians. One of the detainees Mikhak Teymurian said he
went to Nagorno Karabakh by propaganda of religious center of Iranian
Armenians Khalifagari-ye-Erameni.