BAKU: Nizami Bahmanov: "If The Minsk Group Co-Chairs Want To Restore

NIZAMI BAHMANOV: "IF THE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS WANT TO RESTORE THEIR ACTIVITY, THEY SHOULD FURTHER BASE ON THE RESOLUTION, ADOPTED BY UN"

Today.Az
cs/44376.html
April 18 2008
Azerbaijan

The failure of the co-chairing countries to support the UN resolution,
initiated by Azerbaijan is a disgraceful step they undertook.

The due announcement was made by leader of Azerbaijani community of
Nagorno Karabakh Nizami Bahmanov.

"The co-chairs explained the step by saying that the text of the
resolution is a unilateral approach to the conflict settlement. There
is a need to pay attention to the name of the document. The matter is
the occupied lands of Azerbaijan, not of Armenia. The thing is that
Armenia has been engaged in settling the occupied lands by Armenians
since 1992. The Azerbaijani authorities, who learned about it,
drew attention of the world community to the situation. The OSCE
Minsk Group, created for the purpose confirmed, the correctness
of facts presented by Azerbaijan and informed the OSCE leadership
and co-chairs about it. One of the paragraphs of the resolution
consists of it. It reflects facts of arsons in the occupied lands,
destruction of cultural establishments and property of Azerbaijanis,
recognized by the international mission. An uncontrolled zone, where
drug business and other illegal actions are flourishing, has been
created", said Bahmanov.

He noted that all the requirements contained in the document comply
with the international law.

"At the same time, the document positively assesses the mediation of
the Minsk Group and states that the formal may promote the resolution
of the conflict. It points at the recognition of the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan by the United Nations and all other influential
international organizations and countries and stresses the need to
return the Azerbaijanis to their homes and hold discussions on the
status of Nagorno Karabakh following ensuring normal co-existence of
two communities. This is what resolution implies", said the leader.

He said that co-chairs voting against the document is unclear and
caused our resentment.

"The co-chairs undertook this erroneous step as they failed to impose
their proposals on us. The point of proposals, made in Madrid,
is clear. According to them, Kelbajar would stay under Armenia’s
control for an unlimited term. The Lachin corridor would go to
Armenians and the status of Nagorno Karabakh should be defined
before return of Azerbaijanis there. Therefore, these proposals do
not suit Azerbaijan. If the co-chairs want to restore their activity,
they should further base on the resolution, adopted by the UN. They
will not attain the execution of any other plans, which do not comply
with this document. Azerbaijan carries out an active work in this
direction and tries to intensify the activity of the Minsk Group for
the conflict settlement", said Bahmanov.

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