Azerbaijan observes principle of territorial integrity: Deputy FM
By Sara Rajabova
Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister, Araz Azimov said Baku has always adhered to the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders and regulating interstate relations.
He made the remarks in response to a question on the referendum to be held in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea on March 16.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said at the meeting with Azerbaijani, Turkish and Iranian foreign ministers that Azerbaijan is looking for the restoration of stability in Ukraine and settling the existing problems peacefully.
He also stressed that Azerbaijan stands for preservation of Ukraine's territorial integrity.
As a result of protests in Ukraine, the country's President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted on February 22. The VerkhovnaRada (parliament) has approved the new composition of the parliament and is preparing to hold pre-term elections.
On February 26 several thousand people gathered in front of Supreme Council of Crimea. After the escalation of the protests in Crimea, the Federation Council supported Russian President Vladimir Putin's appeal regarding the use of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine pending "the normalization of the socio-political situation in that country".
The Crimean parliament made a decision on joining Russia on March 6. The deputies also voted for the referendum on the status of the peninsula on March 16.