Trend News Agency
20.09.2007 17:51:31
International Law Requires Definition of Nagorno-Karabakh’s Status –
Minister
Azerbaiajn, Baku / Тrend corr K. Ramazanova / International law
requires that Nagorno-Karabakh’s status be defined and Azerbaijan is
ready to provide for the highest status, which is autonomy within the
framework territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, said to Italian journalists in Azerbaijan
on 20 September.
`The point is our national minorities have not more than their
self-determination,’ the Minister said.
The day before, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister, Araz Azimov once
more confirmed the position of official Baku, which wishes peaceful
settlement of the conflict. Azerbaijan is ready to support the efforts
of the OSCE Minsk Group’s mediators and intends to continue the
settlement within the framework of the Prague Process, he said. `It
would be incorrect to lose the results achieved in the Prague
Process,’ Azimov said.
The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in
1988 due to territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, Armenia has occupied 20% of Azerbaijan, including
Nagorno-Karabakh and its seven surrounding districts. In 1994,
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time the
active hostilities ended. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (
Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful
negotiations.