Azerbaijan, Baku, 15 December / Trend , A.Huseynbala /
The decision made by the U.S. Congress to assist the Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh has a negative impact on relations between the U.S. and Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani MP said.
"The U.S. is co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group. Naturally, this decision of the Congress is a step that cast doubt on the ability to adhere to a fair and neutral position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement," MP Ganira Pashayeva told Trend on Dec. 15.
On Dec. 8, a joint conference between the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives adopted a bill on U.S. 2010 budget.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.
The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenian has not yet implemented the U.N. General Assembly's resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied territories.
According to Pashayeva, after appeals made by the parties represented in the Parliament and the Parliament itself, the U.S. government will attentively approach this issue and take steps to eliminate injustice and not implement the decision.
"But, in my opinion, non-governmental organizations in Azerbaijan should also be active in this process. Our compatriots living in the United States must also be attentive to this issue. Because the Azerbaijanis living in the United States, as citizens of this country, should be very sensitive to this issue. I think they should send a letter of protest to the Congress and at the same send an appeal to the U.S. President, the White House to avoid this step," said Pashayeva.
According to the MP, the Turks living in the United States must also be sensitive and attentive to this issue. "All the Turkish diaspora organizations must make an appeal to the U.S. President to stop this step. Because this is a step adversely affecting the negotiation process to resolve the conflict. At the same time, this step causes great doubt over fair position of the United States in resolving the conflict," she said.
Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at: trend@trend.az
Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az
