Armenian leader asserts claims to ancient Azeri enclave
Armenia, which has been occupying a part of
Azerbaijan`s internationally-recognized territory since the early
1990s has asserted, at the highest level, its claims to
Azerbaijan`s ancient enclave of Nakhchivan. At a time talks are
underway to settle the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, Yerevan`s
groundless allegations are being met with astonishment by the world
community.
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian has alleged that both the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh, a region that is occupied by his country`s armed forces, along with seven adjacent Azerbaijani districts, had been ceded to Azerbaijan during the Soviet period and actually belong to Armenia.
"Upper Garabagh and Nakhchivan were granted to Azerbaijan so that the Azerbaijan Republic would not secede from the USSR," Sarkisian said.
According to Sarkisian, chaos prevailed in Azerbaijan after the 1920s as the republic was striving for independence, while Armenia, which could not oppose Soviet rule, was unable to take possession of those territories.
"Upper Garabagh and Nakhchivan`s remaining parts of Azerbaijan is a result of a purposeful policy pursued by the USSR regime at the time," Sarkisian maintained.
Further, the Armenian president cited Georgia as an example to back up his historical distortions. He believes that the regions of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Ajaria were granted to Georgia for the same purpose, meaning the move was used as a tool to keep the neighboring South Caucasus republic within the USSR.
The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, both former Soviet republics, emerged in the late 1980s, the last few years of the USSR, due to Armenia`s territorial claims. A lengthy war ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Yerevan continues its policy of occupation, in defiance of international law, and OSCE-brokered peace talks have not yet resulted in resolving the dispute.
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian has alleged that both the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh, a region that is occupied by his country`s armed forces, along with seven adjacent Azerbaijani districts, had been ceded to Azerbaijan during the Soviet period and actually belong to Armenia.
"Upper Garabagh and Nakhchivan were granted to Azerbaijan so that the Azerbaijan Republic would not secede from the USSR," Sarkisian said.
According to Sarkisian, chaos prevailed in Azerbaijan after the 1920s as the republic was striving for independence, while Armenia, which could not oppose Soviet rule, was unable to take possession of those territories.
"Upper Garabagh and Nakhchivan`s remaining parts of Azerbaijan is a result of a purposeful policy pursued by the USSR regime at the time," Sarkisian maintained.
Further, the Armenian president cited Georgia as an example to back up his historical distortions. He believes that the regions of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Ajaria were granted to Georgia for the same purpose, meaning the move was used as a tool to keep the neighboring South Caucasus republic within the USSR.
The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, both former Soviet republics, emerged in the late 1980s, the last few years of the USSR, due to Armenia`s territorial claims. A lengthy war ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Yerevan continues its policy of occupation, in defiance of international law, and OSCE-brokered peace talks have not yet resulted in resolving the dispute.