Karabakh voters take part in parliamentary elections in May 2010 (photo by photolur)

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)—Official Yerevan and Stepanakert on Wednesday slammed Ankara for meddling in the internal affairs of Karabakh, after the Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement “strongly condemning” Thursday’s president elections in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan said that Turkish authorities, who continue to deny the Armenian Genocide, which was perpetrated by their predecessors, have no moral or ethical rights to try to “teach” Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic any lessons, let alone make false comments about UN Security Council decisions and OSCE principles.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry claimed that the upcoming elections in Karabakh ran counter to OSCE principles and UN Security Council’s decisions.

“Turkey, which always supports Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, strongly condemns these illegal ‘elections’ and will not acknowledge its results,” said the Turkish Foreign Ministry’s statement, adding that “The continued occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh is a serious obstacle to stability and peace in the South Caucasus.”

Deputy Foreign Minister Kocharyan said that instead of satisfying its urge to teach others lessons it should advise itself “to not organize elections and withdraw its troops from north Cyprus and free it from occupation.”

“However, if Turkey is indeed sincere and not being guided by Azerbaijani interests, then it is a very good opportunity for Turkey to offer Azerbaijan assistance in organizing democratic elections and take lessons from Karabakh in establishing a state based on democratic values,” said Kocharyan.

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic presidential spokesman David Babayan also echoed Kocharyan’s sentiments saying that Turkey has no political or moral right to comment on the upcoming presidential elections.

“We are already used to Turkey’s destructive approach,” said Babayan. “Instead of criticizing the upcoming democratic, free and fair presidential elections in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Turkey should reconsider the activities of the Turkish-sponsored authorities of north Cyprus, its own questionable democratic values regarding national minorities and should recognize the biggest crime against humanity—the Armenian Genocide of 1915.”