Romania does not Recognize the Independence of Nagorno-Karabakh

TREND News Agency, Azerbaijan
July 21 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend K.Ramazanova / Romania does not recognize
the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh nor the legitimacy of so-called
"presidential elections" held on 19 July in that region, the Foreign
Ministry (MAE) said in a press.

The "presidential elections" should have no influence on the peaceful
settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the
MAE said, stressing that the refugees should be allowed to get back
to their homes in safety and dignity in order to be able to attend
the elections.MAE reaffirms its firm support for the Minsk Group and
its co-chairs to be able to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and
encourages the sides to do more and find a negotiated solution.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries appeared in 1988
due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenia has
occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani lands including the Nagorno-Karabakh
region and its seven surrounding districts. Since 1992 to the present
time, these territories have been under Armenian occupation. In 1994,
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a cease-fire agreement at which time
the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
(Russia, France and USA) are holding peaceful negotiations.