The Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan has issued a statement on the “visit” of Bako Saakian, who introduces himself as a representative of the illegal regime created in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by the Armenian armed forces, to Russia.
Commenting on the statement, chairman of the Coordination Council of the Azerbaijani Community of the Nagorno-Karabakh Region of the Republic of Azerbaijan, professor Elchin Ahmadov said: As the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, the US, France and Russia, contrary to their commitments to the settlement of the conflict, do not take any measures to prevent the entry of Bako Saakian, who introduces himself as a representative of the illegal regime created in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, to the territory of their countries.
The travels of Bako Saakian, who introduces himself as the “head” of the so-called regime created in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, to Belgium in 2017, to the US this March, to France in November and then to Russia, most importantly, run contrary to the principles of international law as well as the OSCE mandate and mediation commitments.
The person called Bako Saakian is a representative of the puppet and illegal regime created as a result of the use of military force in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Giving him an opportunity to travel to foreign countries, including the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs countries, encourages the promotion of the regime, which is the product of occupation, aggression and terrorism.
By taking such steps and pursuing a policy of discrimination, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs countries turn a blind eye to the violation of rights of the Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, who were subjected to ethnic cleansing.
Once again we remind that the US, France and Russia are co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and are mediating the Nagorno-Karabakh problem based on a mandate given by the international community. They should try to ensure rapprochement between the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and return of the Azerbaijani IDPs to their native lands, instead of taking one-sided steps.
The UN Security Council resolutions 822, 853, 874 and 884 on Armenia`s aggression against Azerbaijan emphasize Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity, sovereignty and the necessity of inviolability of its borders. Although the UN Security Council documents demand immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the occupying forces from Azerbaijan`s occupied lands, the Minsk Group`s efforts have not produced yielded any tangible results over 26 years because of the Republic of Armenia`s overt position of military aggression. The main reason behind the failure of the OSCE`s peacemaking activity in the region is that the fact of the Republic of Armenia`s direct aggression against the Republic of Azerbaijan has not been recognized.
On behalf of IDPs from the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan, that is more than 80,000 Azerbaijanis, we sharply condemn and express our outrage at the “visits” of Bako Saakian, who introduces himself as a representative of the illegal regime created in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by the Armenian armed forces, to the co-chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group (France, the US, Russia). We consider this step of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries as disrespect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
