Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec.12 / Trend , A.Huseynbala /
Azerbaijani First Deputy Parliamentary Speaker thinks the United States, who recognizes Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, should not help Nagorno Karabakh.
"We cannot regard the U.S. support to Nagorno-Karabakh without any notification or explanation as correct. The U.S., who recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, was to coordinate it with Baku," Trend quoted First Deputy Parliamentary Speaker, Commission on Security and Defence Head Ziyafet Asgerov as saying.
U.S. Congress and Senate adopted a decision to allocate $8 million in assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh on Dec. 9.
According to Asgerov, Azerbaijan is a strategic ally of the U.S. and Washington was to inform Azerbaijan about it respecting the territorial integrity of the country. "On the other hand, you know that now negotiations have entered into a very sensitive phase. Allocation of $41 million to Armenia and $8 million to the Nagorno-Karabakh makes suspicious the mediation mission of the country [the U.S.].
Asgerov thinks to preserve the fair position the U.S. ought to assist the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh, too. "We are unaware for what purpose the beneficiary will use this aid. We know that Armenia spends U.S. financial assistance for armaments. I think the aid for Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh in this sensitive phase of talks counteracts the spirit of our strategic ally relations."
Asgerov didn't exclude that the issue will be discussed at a parliamentary meeting. "Azerbaijani MPs are very much concerned about it. This question will more probably be raised in the parliament."
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.
So far, Armenia has not fulfilled resolutions in connection with the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the occupied territories, adopted by UN General Assembly.