Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend A.Gasimova / The GUAM Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs expresses its deep concern over the reported intention of the separatist regime, created in the occupied territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan, to conduct so-called "presidential elections" on 19 July 2007.
The council stresses that the conduct of so-called "elections" represents a serious violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan as well as relevant norms and principles of international law. These "elections" shall be considered null and void, and their results will have no legal consequences, mentioned the Committee's statement issued by the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan.
The GUAM council stresses that such an act shall not mislead the international community, since it runs contrary to universally recognized standards and values of democracy, rule of law and human rights. This illegal act is aimed at creating a fait accompli situation in the conflict settlement, thus affecting negatively the ongoing peace negotiation process.
"Legal elections can be held in the Nagorno-Karabakh region only after its re-integration into political, legal, social and economic system of the Republic of Azerbaijan, its full rehabilitation, return of displaced persons to the places of their permanent residence, restoration of transport communications and ensuring the peaceful co-existence and cooperation between the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities in this region," mentioned by the statement.
The GUAM Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs calls on the international community to unequivocally condemn such an illegal act and to support the ongoing efforts aimed at finding a peaceful resolution of the conflict on the basis of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries started in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenia has occupied 20% of Azerbaijani lands including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. Since 1992 to the present time, these territories have been under Armenian occupation. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a cease-fire agreement at which time the active hostilities ended. The Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France and USA) are holding peaceful negotiations.