Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Feb 2 2008

European Countries Demonstrate Double Standards Concerning Regulation
of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: Defense Minister of Azerbaijan
02.02.08 14:25

Azerbaijan, Baku, 2 February / corr. Trend E. Huseynli /
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is delayed due to the non-constructive
position of Armenia and several European countries demonstrate double
standards concerning its regulation, Safar Abiyev, the defense
minister of Azerbaijan and colonel-general said during his meeting
with Alayna Guidetti, the ambassador of the Switzerland Confederation
to Azerbaijan.

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.

According to minister, the double standards of the European countries
concerning the solution of the conflict are not admissible. Aggressor
should be called by its name. ` Azerbaijan prefers peace
negotiations. However if there is no concrete results, we are able to
liberate our land by all means, even by a war,’ the minister added.

Safar Abiyev received also Lyu Kvang-Chul, the ambassador of Korea to
Azerbaijan on 2 February. During the meeting the minister stressed
that 20% of the Azerbaijani lands have been occupied by the Armenian
Armed Forces and more than 1 mln people were deported from their
lands and the historical and cultural monuments were destroyed.