Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated that any activities carried out in the occupied territories of Nagorno-Karabakh are contrary to international legal norms.

However, companies from more than 20 countries illegally operate in Azerbaijan’s occupied territories.

Following the research by dailykarabakh.com website, even the U.S., France and Russia, the countries represented in the OSCE Minsk Group have their companies in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Moreover, Germany, Argentina, Australia, the UK, China, Switzerland, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Lithuania, Lebanon, Uruguay, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Belgium, India and Iran are among the countries whose companies are engaged in illegal activities in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

The source reported that most of these companies are mobile operators and tourism companies.

The Azerbaijani government has already submitted protest letters to the U.S., Germany, France, Switzerland, the UK, Italy and Iran.

Earlier, at a meeting with UK State Minister for Trade and Investment Francis Maude Azerbaijan’s Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev submitted a list of companies engaged in illegal activities in the occupied territory of Azerbaijan.

Mustafayev noted that this is unacceptable, and the British government should take measures to prevent such incidents.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. The two countries fought a lengthy war, as a result of which Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

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Nazrin Gadimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @NazrinGadimova

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