Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 16
Trend:
International organizations will not recognize the illegal “referendum”, held by the unrecognized regime created by Armenia in Azerbaijan’s occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region, or its results, Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Ali Ahmadov told reporters in Baku Feb. 16.
Ahmadov made the remarks commenting on the “referendum” on making changes to the illegal regime’s “constitution” that is scheduled for Feb. 20.
“If they [Armenians] want to hold a “referendum” to make themselves happy let them hold it. Naturally, the government and people of Azerbaijan don’t recognize and won’t recognize this “referendum”. International organizations, structures engaged in the Karabakh conflict’s settlement won’t recognize this “referendum” either,” Ahmadov said.
Ahmadov stressed that this “referendum” can be considered as another provocation of Armenia in order to complicate the process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict’s settlement.
“The truth is that the whole world, international organizations unequivocally understand, and this is reflected in international resolutions that the Nagorno-Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan. The fact that this issue hasn’t been solved yet doesn’t mean that the approach has changed. International organizations also share this opinion. The government and people of Azerbaijan resolutely demonstrate their position on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue,” he said. “Under no circumstances, the second Armenian state wont’ be created in the territory of Azerbaijan, and the Azerbaijani president has repeatedly stated it.”
No part of Azerbaijani lands can be separated from Azerbaijan, including, of course, that the Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence, its separation have not been, is not and will not be a subject of discussions, added Ahmadov.
Earlier, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the illegal “referendum on constitutional changes” planned to be held in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan is a clear violation of the country’s constitution, as well as the norms and principles of international law and, therefore, has no legal effect.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.