Self-proclaimed “Upper Garabagh Republic” admits illegal settlements
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 25 2005
Baku, March 24, AssA-Irada — The self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh
Republic leadership told the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs before the
monitoring held by the OSCE fact-finding mission in the occupied
Azerbaijani regions that it has created opportunities for the
settlement of Armenians in Lachin District and considers it normal,
the Russian co-chair of the Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov said.
Merzlyakov noted that the OSCE mission has not determined that the
settlement of Armenians in the occupied regions is realized according
to a purposeful policy of the Armenian government.
The Russian co-chair said there is evidence on the support of
Armenians’ settlement by the leadership of the self-proclaimed
republic. However, he declined to comment on its relations between
the leadership of the ‘republic’ and the Armenian government.
“It is impossible to solve the issue of illegal settlement of Armenians
in the occupied regions until they are liberated. These regions are
currently controlled by Armenians,” said Merzlyakov.
The Russian co-chair added that it will be impossible to withdraw
Armenians from Upper Garabagh unless Armenian armed forces are
withdrawn from the occupied lands.*