Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29
By Seba Agayeva - Trend:
While a number of states in the U.S. recognize the Khojaly genocide and the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan, the Armenian lobby is trying to achieve the adoption of resolutions of declarative nature using primitive means, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman, Elman Abdullayev said on Jan. 29.
Abdullayev made the remarks commenting on Armenian media outlets' reports about the Los Angeles City Council adopting a resolution on recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh separatist regime's independence.
"Adoption of this document was possible with funding from the Armenian lobby," Abdullayev said.
The document has no legal force and is declarative in nature, he added.
So far, various states in the U.S. have adopted 18 resolutions on the Khojaly tragedy and on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in general, and Los Angeles City Council's adoption of a resolution recognizing the separatist regime of Nagorno-Karabakh is just a pathetic attempt on the part of the Armenian lobby, Abdullayev said.
Abdullayev said that the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles has protested the adoption of this document.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven 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 peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
Translated by E.A.
Edited by C.N.