Official Baku strictly criticized Cyprus MFA statement about Karabakh

ArmInfo. Official Baku strictly criticized Cyprus MFA Ioannis Kasoulides statement on Nagorgno Karabakh. 

Azerbaijani MFA press service head Khikmed Gadjiev noted that Cyprus 

MFA statement on Karabakh conflict contradicts international rights 

and obligations of that country on the Helsinki final act and other 

international documents. "This serves as a motivation of aggressive 

and occupational policy of Armenia against Azerbaijan. His words 

affect negotiation process on peaceful settlement of the conflict 

through intermediary of OSCE Minsk Group co chairs and attempts to 

reach stable peace in the region. This opinion does not correspond 

with basic forms and principles of EU international right positions, 

OSCE and Council of Europe, which member is Cyprus", Azerbaijani 

spokesman said. 

At the same time, he expressed confidence that Kasoulides contradicts 

himself with such statements, as on January 26 of the current year 

during the speech in Permanent Council of OSCE as a chairman of 

Ministries Committee CE, he stated that Cyprus intends to definitely 

support the principles of territorial completeness, sovereignty and 

political independence of the states. "I would like to note also that 

North Cyprus is a territory, where Turks lived for centuries as 

native people, and they have right on self determination. Due to the 

lack of transparency, there are also some questions and doubts about 

the military cooperation between Cyprus and Armenia. We hope that the 

issue will be considered within the framework of the relevant 

positions of the European Union and the OSCE on military aspects of 

the conflict,"Gadjiev said. 

To note, on May 30, the head of the Armenian Defense Ministry, who is 

on a visit to Nicosia, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of 

Cyprus Ioannis Kasoulides. Among other issues, the partner  also 

talked about  Cyprus and Karabakh issues. According to the Foreign 

Minister of Cyprus, it is wrong to draw parallels between the two 

conflicts, since unlike the northern Cyprus occupied by Turkey, 

Artsakh is a historical territory of Armenians who have always lived 

there, fought for their own security and proclaimed independence. In  

his turn, Sargsyan expressed gratitude for the balanced position of 

Cyprus on the Karabakh issue. He noted that it is extremely important 

for friendly Armenia.