Azerbaijani community head: Armenian president to answer for innocent Azerbaijanis' blood

The president of Armenia will answer for the blood of innocent Azerbaijanis shed during territorial conflicts between the nations, Head of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh Bayram Safarov told the website of the ruling New Azerbaijan party today.

"Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan is well aware that occupied Karabakh and other areas have no relation to Armenians. Therefore, these lands will be returned to their rightful owners," Safarov said.

The Armenian president is directly related to the occupation of Azerbaijani land, the community head 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 seven 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 negotiations to resolve the dispute.

"The president of the occupying country has nothing to say. He knows that all his statements have no foundation. Armenia has found itself in a difficult situation. It has no reasons for delaying the talks," Safarov said.

"[Azerbaijan] strives for territorial integrity to be restored and for people to return to their native lands," Safarov added. "Azerbaijan expects the world community to assist in restoring justice. We will never accept the occupation of our land."

Armenia has failed to implement U.N. Security Council resolutions stipulating the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions.


/Trend/