Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr I. Alizadeh / If it tunes proof that the statements published in the Vrema Novostey (News Time) newspaper were made by the OSCE Minsk Group's US co-chairman, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State on Europe and Asia, Mathew Bryza, the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh will express its protest in this connection, the head of the public association, Nizami Bahmanov, reported.
Bahmanov believes the matter should be seriously investigated. "I do not believe the US representative could make such a statement, for all international organizations and all countries in the world, including the United States, recognize Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. If that was said by the US co-chairman, he will come under fire of the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh," Bahmanov noted.
According to him, if the co-chairman really made such a statement, so he went beyond his commissions. If an investigation proves that, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry and the public should express a protest," Bahmanov urged. "At present the matter is investigated at the state level," he added.
In his interview with the Russian Vrema Novostey Mathew Bryza compared the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh with the situation in the United States in the 18th century. Moreover, he noted the possibility of independence for Nagorno-Karabakh.
The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus began in 1988 due to territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Armenia has occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani land including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding Districts. Since 1992, these territories have been under the occupation of the Armenian Forces. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time the active hostilities ended. The Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France and USA) are currently holding peaceful negotiations.