UN RESOLUTION WITH UNFAVORABLE TITLE
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[01:25 pm] 08 September, 2006
The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for the U.N. to
urgently assist in preventing environmental damage from fires in the
disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The resolution stressed "the necessity to urgently conduct an
environmental operation to suppress the fires." It took note of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s intention
to organize a mission to the region to assess the short-term and
long-term impact of the fires.
Azerbaijan’s U.N. Ambassador Yashar Aliyev introduced the draft
resolution, saying that in early June Azerbaijan registered massive
fires in the eastern part of the territory occupied by Armenia, and
by August the fire had damaged more than 600 square kilometers. After
the vote, he thanked everyone who supported the resolution.
Armenia’s U.N. Ambassador, Armen Martirosyan, said that although he
supported the content of the resolution, he had serious problems
with its title and opposed bringing any Nagorno-Karabakh issue to
the United Nations.
U.S. deputy ambassador Alejandro Wolff, speaking on behalf of the
OSCE group dealing with the Nagorno-Karabakh issue – the U.S.,
France and Russia – said the three countries remain committed to
promoting a peaceful, negotiated solution to the conflict between
Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Here goes the full text of the resolution.
Sixtieth Session of the UN General Assembly
Agenda Item 40,
Azerbaijan: resolution
The situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan
The General Assembly,
Seriously concerned by the fires in the affected territories, which
have inflicted widespread environmental damage,
1. Stresses the necessity to urgently conduct an environmental
operation to suppress the fires in the affected territories and to
overcome their detrimental consequences;
2. Welcomes the readiness of the parties to cooperate to that end and
considers such an operation to be an important confidence-building
measure;
3. Takes note of the OSCE intention to organize a mission to the region
to assess the short-term and long-term impact of the fires on the
environment as a step for preparation of the environmental operation;
4. Calls upon, in this regard, the organizations and programs
of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations
Environmental Programme, in cooperation with the OSCE to provide
all necessary assistance and expertise, including, inter alia,
the assessment of and counteraction to the short-term and long-term
impact of the environmental degradation of the region, as well as in
its rehabilitation;
5. Asks the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group of the OSCE to provide a
report to member States of the General Assembly by April 30, 2007