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Self-determination shouldn’t justify separatism

17 October 2014 17:55 (UTC+04:00)
Self-determination shouldn’t justify separatism

By Sara Rajabova

Azerbaijan's justice minister said the principle of self-determination should not be used to justify separatism.

Fikret Mammadov made the remarks during the 27th session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on October 16.

"There are nations who are seeking self-determination in the world today. There are some examples in Europe on giving special status to some regions that allows them to resolve their problems. The principle of self-determination under the UN Charter, ensures the participation of each nation in managing its territories within the territorial integrity of the state. But this principle cannot be used to justify separatism," Mammadov said.

He noted that Azerbaijan has been suffering from separatism over the past 20 years. Armenia has occupied more than 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory displacing a million Azerbaijanis.

"Destructive policy of Armenia in the conflict is aimed at undermining the peace settlement. All this gives the international community a substantial ground to impose serious sanctions against Armenia," Mammadov said.

For over two decades, Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in a conflict which emerged over Armenia's territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. A fragile ceasefire has been in place since 1994, but long-standing efforts by U.S., Russian and French mediators have been largely fruitless so far.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on its pullout from the neighboring country's territories.

Mammadov further stressed the importance of rejection of "double standards" that contribute to fueling separatism and armed conflicts and create a sense of permissiveness and impunity.

"Azerbaijan strongly supports the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine and other neighboring countries through political dialogue and on the basis of international principles. The settlement of armed conflict generated by the separatist movements or political crisis cannot be achieved unless it is consistent with international law, in particular the fundamental norms such as the obligation to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity of states," Mammadov said.

He noted that strict compliance with rules relating to friendly relations and cooperation between the states and the conscientious observance of obligations by the involved parties are extremely important for international peace and security.

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