Trend Information, Azerbaijan
Dec 5 2007
Baku Concerned on International Crisis Group’s Report on
Nagorno-Karabakh
05.12.07 13:45
Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend K.Ramazanova / Azerbaijan is concerned
about the facts mentioned in the last report on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict by the International Crisis Group (ICG) and doubts that this
organization recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,
Hasan Mammadzade, an employee of the Foreign Relations Department of
the Azerbaijani President’s Administration said. He was speaking at a
public discussion of the ICG report on 5 December.
The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in
1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful
negotiations.
The report by ICG does not reflect the true development of
Azerbaijan, the increase of oil revenues and increase of corruption,
whereas the increase of military expenses was indicated in the report
as an indication of an increase in military spirit. However, the
armament of Armenia does not concern the ICG at all, Mammadzade said.
Claire Delessard, a representative of the International Crisis Group,
said during the publication of the report that military preparations
were underway in Azerbaijan and Armenia. `The rehabilitation of
military action is possible only in 2012, when Azerbaijan’s oil
revenues will reduce,’ she said.
`Following a cut in oil revenues, the situation might become crucial
and only civil society can play an important role in the resolution
of the conflict,’ Delessard said.
Mammadzade said that the ICG is an influential organization and the
distribution of a report on the Nagorno-Karabakh is very important
and positive. However, the document does not highlight the positions
of the two sides impartially.
`The report does not take into consideration the refugees’ rights and
those guilty of their displacement are not named.
The report does not contain data on graves and monuments in
Nagorno-Karabakh and other territories of Azerbaijan, Mammadzade
said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
