Azerbaijan made a protest against former OSCE MG Co-Chair's statement

Mammadov said that Kazimirov have Armenian relations and he has financial relations with Armenians stressing that confidence in the Russian diplomat was lost in 1992-93. Mammadov also noted that at times Kazimirov made biased statements on Azerbaijan and sometimes he even forged relevant international documents when he was sponsored by Armenians.

"He even tells a lie by saying that the principle of nations determining their fates is same with the principle of territorial integrity of states according to the UN Convention of 1948. Kazimirov's statements are contrary to diplomatic ethic. I think he has gone mad, he is too old to comprehend what he says," the presidential administration's official said.

Mammadov also noted that Kazimirov's such statements may hinder the process of settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh problem. On the other hand, stating that these statements are false, the department director considers as the parties to the conflict do not take into account these false statements, these factors will not have negative impact on the settlement process.

"I don't think these opinions coincide with Russia's official foreign policy. We have less belief that the old Kazimirov will have strong logic," he said.

Earlier Pan-Armenian Information Agency published Kazimirov's statement, according to  which the late Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev allegedly realized that it was impossible to liberate Nagorno Karabakh, but only the surrounding areas. Stating that the Karabakh problem had negative psychological impact on Azerbaijanis, Kazimirov stressed that the problem cannot possibly be solved for the benefit of Azerbaijan.

On Friday Russian Charge d'Affaires Pyotr Burdikin was invited to Foreign Affairs Ministry and given an oral note with regard to the above-mentioned statement.

Foreign Ministry press and information center head Tahir Taghizade has informed APA that Khalaf Khalafov, Deputy Minister, has met with Mr. Burdikin and made a protest against such a statement issued by ex-official of Russia. The Russian diplomat, in his turn said he would convey anxiety of Baku to official Russia.