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France's position is clear: Armenia should return all occupied lands of Azerbaijan (UPDATE 2)

Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict Materials 9 February 2011 17:22 (UTC +04:00)
Azerbaijan does not need lobbing its interests, because the truth is on the side of Baku, in fact its territory under occupation, member of the French Senate Nathalie Goulet said.
France's position is clear: Armenia should return all occupied lands of Azerbaijan (UPDATE 2)

Details added after eighth paragraph (the first version was posted at 11:01)

Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 9 / Trend T.Konyayeva /

Azerbaijan does not need lobbing its interests, because the truth is on the side of Baku, in fact its territory under occupation, member of the French Senate Nathalie Goulet said.

"Armenia must return all the occupied land and follow the international law. France's position is unequivocal in this matter," Goulet said in an interview with Trend.

France's official position is very clear: refugees must return to the territory of the former residence and Armenia must withdraw from occupied territory, which is recognized as an integral part of Azerbaijan, in accordance with international law, Goulet said.

"But the problem that we face in promoting Azerbaijan's position is quite efficient operation of the Armenian diaspora not in the Senate, but in other state institutions of France," Goulet said.

However, she said, the truth is on the side of Azerbaijan, as Baku requires a fair, independent and systematic application of the international law.

"Azerbaijan must loudly voice its international declarations," Goulet said.

Regarding the OSCE Minsk Group, Goulet said one should not put great hopes on the activities of the co-chairs, as the result may be disappointed.

"The efforts of the mediator forces should not be limited in-country visits and signing of the documents. Mediating countries should intensify their actions," she said.

According to Goulet, the French people know almost nothing about either Azerbaijan or Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, or the region in general.

"You need to promote your country from cultural and historical point of view. We can help you in this regard. Azerbaijan is becoming known throughout the world due to active work in this regard by the First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, MP Mehriban Aliyeva and your embassy," she said.

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.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

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