AZERBAIJANI FM: UNFORTUNATELY, ARMENIA CONTINUES TO IGNORE THE CALLS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
APA
Sept 27 2011
Azerbaijan
Washington. Isabel Levine – APA. “Unfortunately, Armenia continues
to ignore the calls of the international community”, Azerbaijani FM,
Elmar Mammadyarov stated at the General Debate of the 66th session
of the UN GA, APA’s correspondent reports from the debates.
Minister reminded that, for almost two decades Azerbaijan has been
facing the flagrant violation of the UN Charter and other documents
of international law by Armenia, which perpetrated aggression against
the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
“As a result of this aggression, almost 20 percent of the territory of
Azerbaijan continues to remain under occupation and about 1 million
Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced persons are unable to
return to their homes. In 1993, the United Nations Security Council
adopted four resolutions, which demanded the immediate, complete and
unconditional withdrawal of Armenian forces from ail the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan and reaffirmed the sovereignty, territorial
integrity and inviolability of the internationally recognized borders
of Azerbaijan. The same appeals were made also by other international
organizations”, he said.
Azerbaijan welcomes the adoption at the sixty-fifth session of the GA
resolution on the strengthening the role of mediation in the peaceful
settlement of disputes, conflict prevention and resolution. In this
document, the General Assembly reiterated that all Member States should
strictly adhere to their obligations as laid down in the UN Charter
and reaffirmed, inter alia, the commitment to respect the sovereignty;
territorial integrity and political independence of ail States.
“Azerbaijan looks forward to the relevant guidance for more effective
mediation; as it was indicated in the resolution, and we are ready
to actively contribute to its elaboration”, minister added.
Unfortunately, we have to admit that not all States approach
responsibly to their international obligations and comply with the
generally accepted norms and principles of international law.
Mr. Mammadyarov mentioned that, instead of preparing its people for
peace, prosperous and stable future in friendship and cooperation with
neighboring countries, the leadership of Armenia continues to publicly
incite the future generations to new wars, violence and aggression
and propagate by all means the dangerous ideas of animosity and hatred
towards not only Azerbaijan, but also other peoples of the region.
“Illegal activities in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan,
including implantation of ethnic Armenian settlers as well as
destruction and appropriation of historical and cultural heritage,
represent another source of serious concern. Such activities serve to
further consolidation of the current status quo of the occupation,
securing the results of ethnic cleansing and colonization of the
seized lands, as well as seriously hamper the perspectives of the
conflict resolution. Earlier in this hall we have witnessed a very
aggressive and nonconstructive statement of the President of Armenia.
He openly confirmed this destructive policy of Armenia”.
The minister also pointed out that the Field Assessment Mission
(FAM), conducted by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs last October to
the occupied territories, stated, inter alia, that the status quo
of the occupation is unacceptable and urged Armenia to put an end to
its illegal practices in these territories.
“As a country suffering from the occupation of its territories and
the forcible displacement of hundreds of thousands of its citizens,
Azerbaijan is the most interested party in the earliest negotiated
settlement of the conflict. Our position is well known to the
international community and is based on strict adherence to the norms
and principles of international law, according to which the acquisition
of territory by force is inadmissible and must be rejected resolutely
and unconditionally. It is absolutely illogical when the leadership of
Armenia, who has implemented the total ethnic cleansing of not only
the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, but also its own territory
from their Azerbaijani population, is trying to apply the principle
of self-determination”, he said adding, it is obvious that one cannot
expel peoples from their homes on ethnic ground and, at the same time,
speak about self-determination on the same ground for those remained”.
“Azerbaijan is confident that the conflict resolution must start
with the withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied
territories within the fixed rime-table and follow by the restoration
of communications, return of refugees and internally displaced persons
and creation of conditions for peaceful coexistence of Azerbaijanis
and Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region within the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan. This step-by-step approach, which has been
proposed by the mediators and supported by the international community,
except, unfortunately, the leadership of Armenia, can bring durable
peace, stability and predictability to the region”.
Azerbaijan still maintains its interest, minister mentioned,
motivation and patience in this very hard and sensitive process
of negotiations. “We believe that the international community will
convince the Armenian side to respect the generally accepted norms
and principles of international law and cease abusing the right
of Azerbaijanis to live within their own territory, including the
Nagorno-Karabakh region. In return, we are ready to guarantee the
highest level of self-rule for this region within the Republic of
Azerbaijan”.
Mr. Mammadyarov also appealed for the valuable support of the UN
members to the candidature of Azerbaijan for a non-permanent seat in
the UN SC.
“The year 2012 marks the 20tl’ anniversary of Azerbaijan’s membership
to the United Nations, though, unlike other candidates from the Group
of Eastern European States, we have never had an opportunity to be a
member of the Security Council. Azerbaijan’s election to the Security
Council will contribute to redressing under-representation of small
developing countries and bring a more balanced membership in this
United Nations organ”, he mentioned.
Touching upon another important issue of the international agenda
-Palestine, Minister Mammadyarov mentioned that Azerbaijan reaffirms
its adherence to the position expressed by the majority of the UN
Member States.
“We reiterate our long-standing solidarity with the people and
leadership of Palestine and believe that the time has come to reach
a breakthrough on this long-standing and very important issue. The
time has come for Palestine he fully represented at the UN”, he said.