Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend S.Agayeva / The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry condemns the so-called 'municipal elections' in the Armenian-occupied Azerbaijan region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
"The so-called 'elections' in the occupied Azerbaijani territory contradicts the forms and principles of the international law and the Constitution of Azerbaijan. They will be recognized neither by the members of international community nor by countries. These elections have a negative impact on negotiations on the resolution of the Armenian -Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh," Khazar Ibrahim, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry announced on 1 August. He was commenting on the forthcoming 'municipal elections' scheduled for 14 October.
The conflict between two South Caucasus countries broke out in 1988 in face of Armenia's territorial claims to Azerbaijan. Since 1992, 20% of Azerbaijani territories (Nagorno-Karabakh and 7 nearby regions) have been under occupation by Armenian Armed Forces. In May, 1994 a ceasefire was signed between the sides. The talks under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by Russia, France, and the United States are still fruitless.
The Central Elections Commission of the so-called "Nagorno Karabakh" has set up arrangements for holding 'elections' to self-government bodies, Armenian media reports.