Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 10 / Trend /
Several non-governmental organizations operating in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh, have applied for funding to the Council of State Support to NGOs under the President of Azerbaijan.
The Council is ready to finance NGOs operating in the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, Council Chairman, MP Azay Guliyev told Trend on Monday.
"In view of the fact that Armenians living in the occupied territories are also Azerbaijani citizens, support for their initiatives in this field within certain rules set by the Council is possible. NGOs operating in Nagorno-Karabakh, bring to us their own desires through indirect ways. In particular, at international activities they approach our representatives and ask about the opportunity to submit a draft to Azerbaijan and the Council. Our answer is that any citizen or created union respecting the laws and the Constitution of Azerbaijan, can take full advantage of the capabilities of the state. However, fearing the military junta in Khankendi and the separatist regime, Armenian NGOs ask to keep this a secret," Guliyev said.
He said social projects, projects for the protection of historic monuments and projects on the ecology of Armenian NGOs in Nagorno-Karabakh can be supported.
"It is known that the occupied territories are faced with very difficult environmental situation. By arson the flora and fauna of the region is purposefully harmed. Our historical monuments are destroyed or their purpose changed. Any local NGO that wants to investigate and monitor the situation on these topics can be provided with support," Guliyev said.
He said the main thing is that NGOs with such thinking would appear.
"Given the current realities, we can simplify the conditions of the announced contest for Nagorno-Karabakh NGOs or arrange for them receiving documents in a special mode. Briefly, if such applications are received officially, serious reaction will follow," Guliyev said.