Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs seem to be predisposed to set out some tension.

Deputy Chief of Azerbaijan’s Presidential Administration and head of the Foreign Relations Department Novruz Mammadov made the remark in his interview with local media.

“It is very interesting that this provocation made already one week ago as a conspicuous continuation of the occupational policy of Armenia has finally awaken the co-chairs to disclose their position. However, to our regrets, they still churn out the same vibes,” Mammadov said commenting on the recent statement by the Minsk Group co-chairs.

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs Igor Popov (Russia), James Warlick (U.S.) and Pierre Andrieu (France) expressed concern over the lack of humanitarian access to the wreckage of the downed military helicopter, according to a message from the OSCE.

Armenian MI-24 helicopter flying 1,700 meters northeast of the Kengerli village of Aghdam region attacked the Azerbaijani army positions on November 12. The helicopter was shot down by the Azerbaijani side. The three crew members on the board of MI-24 helicopter were revealed to be Armenian army's servicemen, who illegally joined the so-called "NKR army."

The message said the helicopter’s wreckage is in a mined area on no one’s land of the contact line between the Armenian and Azerbaijani troops.

“Do they know that Armenia came to a decision to run military exercises in the Azerbaijani territories, couldn’t they? Were they far enough to know about the statements of Armenia saying that 40 thousand troops coupled with military equipment and weaponry to be involved in these military games? Were they aware of the fact that the territories of Azerbaijan recognized by the international community and the countries they represent remain under occupation for last 25 years, and 750-760 thousand people ousted from these lands turned into IDPs scattering over various regions of Azerbaijan?” Mammadov said.

He said the co-chairs think of the international law as a relic and act in line with Armenian’s vision.

“And, this is not for the first time. How it comes to say that a helicopter is downed in ''the neutral territory''. Regrettably, the co-chairs do it deliberately! But, they should also know that the current tension that rules the international affairs today is stemming out from such irresponsible statements,” Mammadov said.

He went on to say that the co-chairs remain silent on the fact that Armenia has planted mines in each corner of the Azerbaijani territories that they kept under occupation.

The co-chairs frequently highlight the obligations and express their opinion in public, according to Mammadov.

“Then, what about their own obligations? Do they content that they are alright with their obligations when they say ''go and negotiate on your own''. This is absolutely clear to anyone: both the responsibility and the obligation in front of the entire international community and the history to obtain a fair solution of this conflict by peace and negotiations in line with international law norms fall on their shoulders. They are not tourists, after all,” Mammadov said.

Armenia occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions, after laying territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor that caused a brutal war in the early 1990s. Long-standing efforts by U.S., Russian and French mediators have been largely fruitless so far.

As a result of the military aggression of Armenia, over 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed, 4,866 are reported missing and almost 100,000 were injured, and 50,000 were disabled.

The UN Security Council has passed four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory, but they have not been enforced to this day.