Azernews.Az

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry has sent a note to the United States government in protest at the Congress’ recent decision to allocate financial aid to the self-proclaimed Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh republic.
The document expressing Azerbaijan’s "deep concern" was handed over to the US Department of State officials by the Azerbaijani Ambassador in Washington Yashar Aliyev.
Baku stressed that Azerbaijan’s Upper Garabagh region and seven surrounding regions remain under Armenian occupation. The US government’s conducting any activities - without Baku’s consent - in Upper Garabagh and other occupied Azerbaijani territories contradicts official US statements voicing support for Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized sovereignty and territorial integrity. "This will be considered as support of the US government for the separatist regime in Azerbaijan’s occupied territories and will lead to the continuation of occupation," the note said.
The Azerbaijani government warned that the move will have a negative impact on efforts to solve the Garabagh conflict and undermine the USA`s image of "a just and impartial mediator" as a co-chair of the mediating OSCE Minsk Group.
The State Department has vowed to respond to the note in the shortest time possible.
US legislators approved the allocation of $8 million to the separatist regime for 2010, though the aid package offered by the Obama administration in May did not include assistance to the self-proclaimed republic. Moreover, Congressmen increased the aid package for Armenia to $41 million, while desginating $22 million for Azerbaijan. The move has sparked outcry in Azerbaijan.
20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory, including Upper Garabagh and seven adjacent districts, has been under Armenian occupation for nearly two decades. Defying international law, the separatist regime in Upper Garabagh declared so-called independence in 1991, which has not been recognized by the world community.*