AssA-Irada, Azerbaijan
June 8 2009
FRENCH LAWMAKERS VISIT TO OCCUPIED REGION UNDER SCRUTINY
The Azerbaijani government is scrutinizing reports on a French
lawmakers visit to the Armenia-occupied Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh
region, the Foreign Ministry spokesman Elkhan Polukhov says. Armenian
media reported that Francois Rochebloine, a member of the French
parliaments lower chamber who chairs the legislatures friendship group
with Armenia, is visiting the self-styled Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh
republic. He is reportedly due to address parliament there. Polukhov
said the ministry had instructed the Azerbaijani embassy in France to
ascertain whether or not these allegations have merit. Once the issue
is fully clarified, Baku will respond with adequate steps. If
necessary, we might issue a note of protest to France, the spokesman
added. Upper Garabagh is an Azerbaijani region occupied by Armenia
since a 1994 cease-fire ended separatist hostilities that killed an
estimated 30,000 people and ousted about a million Azerbaijanis out of
their homes. Armenia
continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani
districts in defiance of international law. Years of peace talks have
brought little tangible result.