AZERBAIJANI DEFENSE MINISTER EXPRESSES REGRET OVER CIS MEMBER-COUNTRIES’ POSITION TOWARDS ARMENIA

TREND News Agency
Nov 28 2007
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr. E.Huseynli / "I regret that the
Commonwealth of Independent Countries (CIS) have not expressed their
position towards the occupation policy of Armenia, and have not taken
any measures in that direction," said Safar Abiyev, the Azerbaijani
Defense Minister, during a meeting with the Russian Defense Minister,
Anatoli Serdukov.

The official visit of the Russian Defense Minister to Azerbaijan
began on 27 November. Serdukov will visit the Gabala Radar Station
during the course of his stay in the country.

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 the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group (Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful
negotiations.

The intense situation continues to exist in the region due to the
occupation policy of Armenia. Four resolutions of the UN Security
Council on the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict have not been implemented.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress