Italy slams so-called elections in occupied Azerbaijani lands

/By AzerNews/

By Mushvig Mehdiyev

In line with its usual belligerent narrative, Armenia has encouraged the puppet regime in Azerbaijan's occupied lands to hold illegitimate parliamentary elections, in view of angering Baku.

The so-called authorities in the occupied Azerbaijani lands have scheduled "parliamentary elections" for May 3, 2015, read an earlier statement from the illegitimate "NKR" president’s press office.

Since Nagorno-Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, the upcoming "elections" to parliament in those lands is illegitimate, said the Italian Foreign Ministry.

"It is well known that Italy does not recognize the so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic," added the ministry.

The Italian side further noted that given the lack of sovereign recognition among the international community, any elections in those territories would therefore be illegal and illegitimate and as a result be considered as null and void as emptied of constitutional legitimacy.

Puppet rulers in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan have always seized every possible opportunity to hinder, thwart and sabotage peace negotiations. The so-called elections will unavoidably prevent peace talks from moving forward.

Earlier in February, the Azerbaijani foreign ministry called the "parliamentary elections" by the separatist regime in Nagorno-Karabakh illegitimate, stressing that it was a deliberate move aimed at undermining peace talks and prevent any breakthrough in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

In light of the upcoming illegal parliamentary elections in the so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" due this May, the Azerbaijani authorities announced that they would asses any step taken by the puppet regime in these territories as an act of aggression on another country's territory.

In July 2012, with the support of the Armenian authorities the so-called regime in Azerbaijan's occupied territories held "presidential elections".

Along with Azerbaijan, Turkey has strictly condemned such actions stressing they stood in breach of international law.

Back in 1992, following a violent and bloody conflict, Armenia occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has yet to comply with the UN Security Council resolutions calling for the liberation of all occupied territories.