The Report of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs' Field Assessment Mission to the Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan Surrounding Nagorno-Karabakhdemonstrates that the Armenian nationalists’ philosophy of claims to the Azerbaijani territories failed, Azerbaijani MP Aydin Mirzazade told.
"The Field Assessment Mission’s information shows how the situation is poor in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. It is clearly seen that the idea of Azerbaijani territories’ annexation by Armenia pursued from 1988 has collapsed. Armenia failed to keep the same level of development in the occupied territories, and degradation increases day by day," Mirzazade said.
The OSCE Minsk Group have conducted field assessment mission at the seven Azerbaijani occupied territories adjacent to Nagorno-Karabakh on Nov.7-12 to assess the overall situation, including humanitarian and other issues. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Ambassadors Bernard Fassier of France, Robert Bradtke of the United States, and Igor Popov of the Russian Federation) were in Vienna on March 23-24, where they briefed the Minsk Group and Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut on their recent and upcoming activities as mediators of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
This report reflects the characteristic of just one part of the occupied zones, Kalbajar and Lachin. It indicates that about 14,000 people live in these two regions, while once the population of these two regions was more than 100,000 people, Mirzazade said.
"Today, Armenia can not settle the territory that it occupied. It can not develop economic activity in the occupied lands and create normal living conditions for people. People do not have identity cards, lack the necessary infrastructure and social security system. People have lost all faith in the present and tomorrow. The occupation of land has not brought any prosperity to the area, but delayed its overall development. On the other hand, the occupation of the lands has become a heavy stone on the neck of Armenia itself. This has led to the closure of borders between Armenia and neighboring countries, and Armenia's isolation from all regional projects," he added.
He said the Nagorno-Karabakh turned into a colony of Armenia and the surrounding areas are in even more severe conditions than Armenia itself. The situation is hard.
"Any cultural development is out of question here. The report also shows that Azerbaijan’s historical heritage has also been destroyed. Towns and villages of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas were ruined. This is the result of official policy pursued by Armenia," he said.
Mirzazade said THE OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs must specify a particular address.
"They should demand from Armenia to respect the rules of international law, so that millions of Azerbaijanis, who have been uprooted from their native lands, returned to their homes and that the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities together improved their lands and ensured their development," Mirzazade said.
This report is one of the most serious charges, as it revealed the essence of Armenia’s aggressive policy, Mirzazade said.
"This report is made in diplomatic tones, so they do not want to dwell on certain points. It says nothing about the illicit trafficking of narcotic substances. The report reflects the state of cemeteries, but there is nothing about the Azerbaijani historical monuments. Museums, old caves and other cultural monuments were located in these areas. Their fate is unknown. On the other hand, it indicates that about 14,000 people live here. But how many people live in Agdam, Gubadli, Jabrayil and Khojaly? Apparently, the co-chairs did not consider it necessary to provide information related to these areas due to the fact that the situation is still grave there. I believe that the report is incomplete. The report does not fully cover the Mission's responsibilities. There are no answers to questions that it had had to reply. But, even incomplete information indicates a tough situation existing in the occupied territories today. The Armenian nationalism, current Armenian government and President Serzh Sargsyan are responsible for this situation, " Mirzazade said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
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