UN OFFICE OF JUSTICE REJECTS SENDING REPRESENTATIVE TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Oct 28 2013

28 October 2013, 17:23 (GMT+04:00)
.

By Sara Rajabova

The United Nations Office of Administration of Justice (OAJ) has
rejected having any connection with Geoffrey Roberston, a person who
visited Nagorno-Karabakh, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said.

Roberston, who claimed to be a representative of the United Nations,
told a conference in occupied Azerbaijani town of Khankendi that it
is time to recognize the “independence” of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Responding to an inquiry by Azerbaijan’s permanent mission to the UN,
the Executive Director of OAJ, Linda Taylor, said that the UN has
absolutely no connection with Roberston and his visit to the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan.

Unauthorized visits to Nagorno-Karabakh and other regions of Azerbaijan
occupied by Armenia are deemed illegal and individuals paying such
visits are included in the “black list” of the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry.

Earlier, the Foreign Ministry released a list of 335 people declared
persona non grata over illegal visits to the Armenian-occupied
territories.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly warned foreign officials and diplomats over
visits to its territories occupied by Armenia, saying this contradicts
international law. The Foreign Ministry has stated that such visits,
paid without prior notification of the relevant authorities of
Azerbaijan, are illegal and damage the settlement process of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing
of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were
killed and over 1 million displaced as a result of the large-scale
hostilities. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied
20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh
and seven surrounding regions. Armenia continues the occupation in
defiance of four UN Security Council resolutions calling for immediate
and unconditional withdrawal.

Peace talks brokered by mediators from Russia, France and the U.S.

have produced no results so far.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress