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.