MFA_Report_on_the_occupied_territories_March_2016_1

F. Urgent Measures to Cease and Reverse
Immediately Unlawful Economic and Other
Activities in the Occupied Territories of
Azerbaijan
Armenia’s policy of attempted annexation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan has no
chance of succeeding. The only way to achieve a durable and lasting conflict settlement
is to ensure the unconditional and complete withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces
from the Nagorno-Karabakh region and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan, as the
UN Security Council demands in its above-mentioned resolutions, and the exercise by the
forcibly displaced Azerbaijani population of their inalienable right to return to their homes
and properties in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and the adjacent districts.
The conflict can only be resolved on the basis of the sovereignty and territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders. No peace settlement of the
conflict can be reached which violates the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan and
which is inconsistent with international law. No acquisition of territory by force shall ever
be recognized by the international community as lawful. Never Azerbaijan shall reconcile
with the seizure of its territories. The military occupation of the territory of Azerbaijan does
not represent a solution and shall never produce a political outcome desired by Armenia.
Armenia must drop its futile attempts to mislead its own people and the wider international
community, cease its policy of annexation and ethnic cleansing and comply scrupulously
with its international obligations. To this end, Armenia must cease and reverse immediately
the transfer of settlers of both Armenian and foreign nationality into the occupied territories,
cease immediately and refrain in the future from any economic and commercial activity
in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan; stop purposeful destruction and looting of the
cultural heritage and sacred sites in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, including the
archeological, cultural and religious monuments, which constitute a grave breach of
international humanitarian law and has a detrimental impact on the process of political
settlement of the conflict.
The Republic of Azerbaijan has stated on numerous occasions and finds it expedient
to remind that it will not tolerate the violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity,
including in particular through engaging in and/or facilitating in any way illegal activities in
the occupied territories.
The fundamental international legal requirement applicable in this context is that no State
shall recognize as lawful the situation resulting from the occupation of the territories of
Azerbaijan and nor render aid or assistance in maintaining it. It is critical that all States
cooperate with a view to ending such situation that emerged as a result of serious breaches
of international law.
In that regard, the Republic of Azerbaijan calls upon the international community to
condemn ongoing efforts by Armenia towards consolidating the occupation of the
territories of Azerbaijan, undertaken in particular by implanting settlers of both Armenian
and foreign nationality into the occupied territories and by pursuing illegal economic and
other activities in those territories.
The Republic of Azerbaijan also calls upon all members of the international community,
in line with their obligations under international law, to take effective measures, including
through their national legislation, that would prevent any activities on their respective
territories by any natural and legal persons against the sovereignty and territorial integrity
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