HistoryofTruth.com - Armenian Allegations

“Azerbaijan should recover the Armenia-occupied lands as a first step and then determine status of Karabakh,” member of Azerbaijani Milli Majlis (parliament) Jamil Hasanli said.

Intensification of negotiations is not due to the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group. The Minks Group aims to maintain status-quo and make Azerbaijan reconcile with it, the MP said.

“If to look closely at this situation, we can see a purposeful demonstration Azerbaijan's will in the Karabakh issue. Turkey has also recently intensified efforts in the region. Finally, after the war in Georgia in August 2008, the Western countries understood how dangerous are the frozen conflicts in the Caucasus. Intensification of the negotiations on the Karabakh issue is due to these factors,” Hasanli said.

“The fact that Azerbaijan solves the Karabakh issue through peaceful means in international organizations does not mean that we accept the current status-quo forever. The current situation is good for Armenia. Therefore, Azerbaijan should recover the Armenia-occupied territories as a first step and then determine the status of Karabakh. Currently, Armenia is engaged in outrageous policy of bargaining occupied areas around the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region in exchange for recognition of the status of Karabakh,” he added.

Azerbaijani MP also commented on a statement by Special Representative for the Caucasus Peter Semneby who said that the current status-quo in the Karabakh issue is not favorable for Armenia.

“Semneby possiblly meant that the Karabakh problem adversely affects international image of Armenia. I think the main mistake of the West and MG is that they equalize an occupier country and a country which is a victim of occupation,' Hasanli said.