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31 January 2005

Azerbaijani Ministry Says, 23,000 Armenians Settled in Occupied Territories

Armenia is directly involved in settlement of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan told reporters when commenting on the results of the meeting with the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk group and the members of the international mission.

According Azimov, the representatives of the Foreign Ministry, Ministry of National Security, State Border Service, Land Committee took part in the meeting.

During the meeting the Azeri side submitted the commission video- and audio materials testifying settling of the occupied territories and geographic maps.

"Settlement of the territories is taking place with direct participation of Armenia," Azimov said. "Approximately 23,000 people were settled there. The policy of settlement is taking place in different forms."

Azimov notes that settlement of the occupied territories does not positively affect the course of the talks of settling the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The information on the use of the occupied territories for illegal drug trafficking and organized crime was also submitted to the commission.

According to Azimov, the commission will attend the occupied territories in several days. First they will visit Kelbajar and Lachin regions and then will visit the other regions, including Shusha. The researches will last 20 days and on the basis of materials they will prepare report which will be submitted to the OSCE Minsk Group and to the Permanent Commission of OSCE in Vienna.


Source: BakuToday, 31 January 2005