Azerbaijani MP urges move to impose sanctions against Armenia

Azerbaijan, Baku, June 22 / Trend E. Mehdiyev / Azerbaijan's ruling party has called on international organisations to impose political sanctions against Armenia. "It is time for international organisations to take a tough stance in connection with the so-called elections held in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region and impose political sanctions," deputy executive secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan party, MP Mubariz Gurbanli told media today. "In this case I hope Armenia will not allow such fraudulent elections in the future." He said that as 20 per cent of Azerbaijani territory has been occupied by Armenia, holding any elections in the territory contradicts international legal norms and principles. "There are occupied territories not only in Azerbaijan, but in other countries," he said. "In this regard, international conventions and decisions adopted by the UN and other international organisations prohibit the holding of elections in occupied territories." The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent 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 peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az