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Azerbaijani Ambassador to UN criticized Armenia hard in the UN Security Council

22 April 2009 07:53 (UTC +04:00)

Ambassador Mehdiyev delivered speech at the open debate in the Security Council on â€œMaintenance of international peace and security: mediation and settlement of disputesâ€, on April 21, 2009. â€œDespite the relevant binding rulings set forth in the United Nations Charter, we are still facing with inconsistent behavior that undermines the basic elements of international legal order, threatens the integrity and stability of States, and leads to grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian lawâ€, said the ambassador.

The Armenian policy has resulted in the occupation of almost one-fifth of the territory of Azerbaijan and made approximately one out of every eight persons in the country an internally displaced or refugee, said Ambassador Mehdiyev in his statement. â€œThe actions of Armenia, up to and including the resort to force, constitute a violation of the fundamental norm of respect for the territorial integrity of States, as well as a violation of other relevant international legal principles, such as rule prohibiting the use of forceâ€, said the ambassador. â€œAs far as the model and legal framework of a self-rule status for the Nagorny Karabakh region within Azerbaijan is concerned, we believe that the process of its definition shall take place in normal peaceful conditions. Attempts to define such status in a situation of continued occupation of the Nagorny Karabakh region and surrounding territories of Azerbaijan and forced displacement of Azerbaijani population contradict international law, as well as the principles and ideas of peace, democracy, stability and regional cooperation. In order to ensure the success of the settlement process and mediation efforts, a number of important steps have to be taken to reach a stage when the negotiations on a self-rule status for the Nagorny Karabakh region within Azerbaijan can start. First and foremost, the factor of military occupation must be removed from the conflict settlement context and Armenia must completely withdraw from the all occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Delay of return of the territories can complicate the already difficult settlement process. Following the liberation of the occupied territories, internally displaced persons should return in safety and dignity to their places of origin in the Nagorny Karabakh region and adjacent districts. Upon release of the territories of Azerbaijan from the occupation, the rehabilitation and economic development of the region shall take place and all communications there shall be made available for mutual useâ€, the Azerbaijani ambassador said.

â€œAlthough the mediation efforts conducted for already quite a long period of time within the framework of the OSCE have not always been consistent and have yet to yield results, Azerbaijan continues to be committed to solving the conflict by political means and in a constructive manner. The conflict can only be solved on the basis of respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan. The aforementioned understanding, reflected also in resolution 62/243 of the General Assembly, is an expression of constructive compromise that Azerbaijan is ready to make within the framework of international law and with the view of achieving lasting peace, stability and cooperationâ€, the Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to UN said.