AZERI MFA ISSUES A STATEMENT ON PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN NKR

armradio.am
06.07.2007 11:48

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has issued a statement
on the presidential elections in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, in
which it "reiterates that the unrecognized separatist regime in the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan represents nothing but an illegal
structure established by Armenia on the basis of ethnic cleansing of
Azerbaijani population."

It is noted in the document that "the so-called "elections" are
conducted in order to camouflage the annexation policy of Armenia and
are aimed at consolidation of the results of the continued occupation
of the Azerbaijani territories.

Conduct of such "elections" gravely violates the relevant provisions
of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the norms and
principles of international law, since they are held in absence of
the original Azerbaijani population of the Nagorno-Karabakh region,
and, therefore shall have no legal effect whatsoever.

Any kind of elections in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic
of Azerbaijan may be recognized as fair and free once the expelled
Azerbaijani population takes full, direct and equal part in their
conduct in lawful and democratic environment equally to the Armenian
population of the region.

Holding such elections will be possible after the withdrawal of the
Armenian occupying forces, normalization of life in the region,
creation of necessary conditions for restoration of the dialogue
and cooperation between the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities
of Nagorno-Karabakh. These steps will open up possibility for the
elaboration of an autonomy model for the Nagorno-Karabakh population
within Azerbaijan.

The Republic of Azerbaijan calls upon the Armenian side to stop
its destructive practice of illegal steps, which does not have
any prospects, and instead to demonstrate a good will and take a
constructive position in the negotiation process in order to find
a soonest and durable solution to the conflict on the basis of the
norms and principles of international law."