Azerbaijani envoy condemns Armenian invasion in appeal to UN chief
By Sara Rajabova
Armenia used military force to occupy Azerbaijani territory and to establish a puppet separatist entity there, Azerbaijan's ambassador to the UN Agshin Mehdiyev said in a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, condemning the statements issued by the separatists of the so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" on August 15 and 30.
Mehdiyev stressed the fact that Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions are under Armenian military occupation is internationally recognized.
"The separatist entity is not recognized by anyone, it is essentially under the guidance and control of Armenia and, finally, it is nothing but a product of aggression, racial discrimination and ethnic cleansing," the Azerbaijani permanent representative said in his appeal. "The illegality of this separatist entity and its structures has been repeatedly confirmed internationally in the most unequivocal fashion."
The letter said Nagorno-Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan, therefore, there is no alternative to an unconditional and complete withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the region and the other occupied territories, to the enforcement of the inalienable right of the displaced persons to return home, and establishment of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia based on mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
According to Mehdiyev, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the above-mentioned separatist entity is not recognized as a state by any country or international organization.
He also reminded of the UN Security Council resolutions urging immediate withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories, saying that the UNSC reaffirmed the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Likewise, other international organizations have adopted numerous documents on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict formulated this way.
Mehdiyev added that there is no doubt that the Armenian annexation claims are absolutely groundless and are doomed to failure.
According to Mehdiyev, the persistent attempts of Yerevan to mislead the international community clearly show that Armenia has no intention to comply with its obligations under the UN Charter and universally recognized principles of international law and refuses to cooperate constructively as part of the effort to find a negotiated settlement to the conflict.
Draft resolutions titled 'Situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan' and 'Ongoing conflicts in the GUAM area and their impact on international peace, security and development' were included in the agenda of the 68th session of the UN General Assembly, the UN said on September 19.
The official opening of the session was held in New York on September 17.
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov heads the Azerbaijani delegation at the UN General Assembly session.
For over two decades, Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict which emerged over Armenian territorial claims. Since a 1990s war, Armenia has occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts. Armenia has continued the occupation in defiance of four UN Security Council resolutions calling for immediate and unconditional withdrawal.
Peace talks mediated by Russia, France and the US have produced no results so far.