COUNTRIES TRYING TO SETTLE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT PEACEFULLY SHOULD INCREASE IMPACT ON ARMENIA – AZERBAIJANI DEFENCE MINISTER

Trend News Agency
April 14 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 14 April /TrendNews corr E. Huseynli/ The Azerbaijani
Defence Minister called on the international community to increase
its impact on the aggressor Armenia.

"Countries and international organizations which are trying to settle
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in a peaceful way should increase
their impact on Armenia in order to prevent a harsh repercussions,"
Colonel-General Safar Abiyev, Azerbaijani Defence Minister, said on 14
April at the meeting with the commander of the Oklahoma State Troop,
Major-General Harry Wyatt.

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 Abiyev, the ineffectuality of the peaceful negotiations
held through the mediation of international organizations has
negatively affected the talks.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress