Gultekin Hajiyeva: “The goal of the International Crisis Group is to find legal ways of giving Nagorni Garabagh to Armenia”

APA was given this explanation by the former ICG member Ilgar Mammadov.

According to the words of I.Mammadov informing that he retired from the membership of the group because he did not agree to one part of the clauses during preparation of the report, that is why he is not informed about the report too much.

“However, the word “referendum” should not be used at all in connection with settlement of the conflict. Lands of Azerbaijan were encroached upon and this fact must be discussed. I consider that the group has a special object in using the word “referendum”.

Referendum can take place only if a all-round agreement is achieved and then referendum can be held in order to strengthen any of the elements of that agreement. However, referendum can not be spoken about in the present stage. Even speaking about it is in favour of Armenia”.

I.Mammadov considers that holding discussions in connection with referendum is aimed to legalize Armenian occupation. The parliamentarian Gultekin Hajiyeva who participated in preparation of the report also informed in her explanation to APA that she does considers the report of ICG to be objective.

According to the words of G.Hajiyeva saying that one part of persons represented in the group already began thinking in this way, the goal of the group is not to search for ways of coexistence of people by analyzing real situation, but to find legal ways of giving Nagorni Garabagh to Armenia. “From this point of view, the clauses of the report on advancing some demands against Azerbaijan and limiting the freedom of activity in the direction of releasing the occupied territories by means of military actions are contrary to the state interests”.

According to the words of G.Hajiyeva, Azerbaijan, as a country being member of UN has the right to protect itself from an attack in accordance with the regulations of this organization. The parliamentarian informing that the clause concerning referendum is contrary both to the international law and laws of Azerbaijan said that referendum can be held only in that case if it covers the whole territory of the country.

“Any question concerning the state structure of Azerbaijan can not be the subject of referendum. Azerbaijan is a unitary state and changing it is contrary to the constitution. Goals of referendum can only be concerned with specification of the borders”.