Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry: "referendum" in the occupied territories is illegitimate

Carrying out the so-called "referendum" in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh is an open violation of the Azerbaijani Constitution and international law, and therefore the results may not have any legal force,  reads the statement of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry in connection with the upcoming  "referendum" on 20 February, which holds the separatist regime with the aim of amending the "constitution" of Karabakh.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reiterated that the illegal regime established by Armenia on the temporarily occupied territories of Azerbaijan, is the absolute result of the aggression and occupation.

As confirmed by the ECHR judgment of 16 June 2016 "Chiragov and others against Armenia", this mode is under the management and control of Armenia and continues to exist thanks to the military, political, financial and other support to Armenia.

This provocative step,  as well as attempts to change the name of the Nagorno-karabahaskogo region, which is part of Azerbaijan, once again demonstrate the absence of genuine interest in the Armenian political settlement of the conflict.

Moreover, Armenia is pursuing a policy of growth of tension, taking consistent steps to strengthen the results of its policy of occupation and an unacceptable and unsustainable status quo. Armenia strongly disrupts all attempts at a peaceful settlement of the conflict through negotiations, illegally changing the demographic, cultural and physical character of the occupied territories.

Using the position of "fait accompli" (fait accompli) Armenia carries out in the occupied territories the economic activities, including the settlement of the Armenian population.

By such actions Armenia causes damage to the  regional and international peace and security and puts them at risk, says the statement.

The MFA reminds that resolutions of the UN Security Council  which serve as the basic principles for the regulation of the conflict: NN 822 (1993), 853 (1993), 874 (1993), 884 (1993), resolution 62/243 (2008), the UN General Assembly condemning the occupation of Azerbaijani territories, and confirms support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of internationally recognized borders.

These resolutions reaffirm the Nagorno-Karabakh region as an integral part of Azerbaijan and contain requirements immediate complete and unconditional withdrawal of occupying forces from Azerbaijani territories. -06D-