Hard-line group concerned over Moscow’s ‘zeal’ in conflict settlement
Russia’s zealous efforts aimed at settling the Armenia-Azerbaijan
Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict have no prospects for Azerbaijan
and are alarming, the hard-line Garabagh Liberation Organization
(GLO) said on Monday.
In a strongly-worded statement, the GLO said the steps being taken at Russia’s initiative, including discussions between Azerbaijani and Armenian lawmakers, experts and journalists in Moscow, target preparing Azerbaijan for a defeatist peace and forcing it to make concessions in Garabagh settlement.
Moscow has lately been hosting meetings between Azerbaijani and Armenian representatives. The two countries’ MPs met there with the Russian side’s participation on October 22, followed by a meeting of their media representatives a few days ago. Participants believe such discussions are important for seeking ways to solve a nearly two-decade-long Garabagh dispute.
The GLO said that, at those meetings, ending hostility between Azerbaijan and Armenia and eliminating the image of an enemy is proposed, which fully complies with Armenian aspirations.
"Azerbaijani land remains under occupation, and, calmly leaving this fact behind and having put hostility aside, we are forging normal relations with a country that has occupied our land and its population, as if nothing ever happened. The Azerbaijani people can never accept this abnormal approach. Hostile attitude toward aggressor Armenia should be maintained and strengthened. Normalization of relations and elimination of an enemy image might be possible only after our territories have been freed. Those who think and act otherwise are serving Armenian policy."
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict for nearly two decades. Peace talks kicked off after a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but have brought little tangible result so far. Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law.
Russia is one of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, a team of diplomats also representing the United States and France which is mediating a peaceful settlement to the Garabagh conflict.*
In a strongly-worded statement, the GLO said the steps being taken at Russia’s initiative, including discussions between Azerbaijani and Armenian lawmakers, experts and journalists in Moscow, target preparing Azerbaijan for a defeatist peace and forcing it to make concessions in Garabagh settlement.
Moscow has lately been hosting meetings between Azerbaijani and Armenian representatives. The two countries’ MPs met there with the Russian side’s participation on October 22, followed by a meeting of their media representatives a few days ago. Participants believe such discussions are important for seeking ways to solve a nearly two-decade-long Garabagh dispute.
The GLO said that, at those meetings, ending hostility between Azerbaijan and Armenia and eliminating the image of an enemy is proposed, which fully complies with Armenian aspirations.
"Azerbaijani land remains under occupation, and, calmly leaving this fact behind and having put hostility aside, we are forging normal relations with a country that has occupied our land and its population, as if nothing ever happened. The Azerbaijani people can never accept this abnormal approach. Hostile attitude toward aggressor Armenia should be maintained and strengthened. Normalization of relations and elimination of an enemy image might be possible only after our territories have been freed. Those who think and act otherwise are serving Armenian policy."
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict for nearly two decades. Peace talks kicked off after a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but have brought little tangible result so far. Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law.
Russia is one of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, a team of diplomats also representing the United States and France which is mediating a peaceful settlement to the Garabagh conflict.*
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