BULGARIA SUPPORTS DURABLE PEACE AND STABILITY IN S CAUCASUS (VIDEO)

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Nov 13 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend S.Agayeva / It is very important to find
a resolution to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, which would satisfy
both sides and guarantee peace in the region, Sergey Stanishev,
the Bulgarian Prime Minister, said in talks with journalists in
Baku on 13 November. He was commenting on Bulgaria’s position on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began
in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time active hostilities ended. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful
negotiations.

"The current state of ‘lingering conflicts’ damages both Azerbaijan
and Armenia, as well as the whole region," Stanishev said.

The OSCE Minsk Group has been involved in the conflict settlement for
many years and during its chairmanship at the OSCE in 2004 Bulgaria
seriously contributed in bilateral negotiations.

" Bulgaria, as an EU member-country, and as a country related to the
region, wishes the region well and stability and considers that it
is necessary to find a durable solution to the conflict," he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress