ARMENIA SHOULD REFRAIN FROM EXTREME POSITION TO SEPARATE NAGORNO-KARABAKH FROM AZERBAIJAN – DEPUTY MINISTER

Trend News Agency
May 29 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 29 May / Trend corr. S.Agayeva / Armenia should
refrain from its extreme position to separate Nagorno-Karabakh from
Azerbaijan, Araz Azimov, Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan,
stated to journalists on 29 may.

The next negotiations between the Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents,
which will be held in St.Petersburg in early June, is aimed to get
a clear picture of official Yerevan’s position regarding settlement
of the conflict.

"The further steps on regulation of the conflict depend on the
principles of the sides. If there will be differences in the positions,
then there is no sense to continue these negotiations," the Deputy
Foreign Minister said.

Azimov has confirmed the adherence of official Baku to settle
the conflict through peaceful means and within the framework of
international norms. " Baku is prepared to continue negotiations
within the framework of Prague process," Azimov said.

The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus began in 1988
due to territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Armenia has
occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani land including the Nagorno-Karabakh
region and its seven neighboring Districts. Since 1992, these
territories have been under the occupation of the Armenian Forces. 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 USA) are currently holding peaceful negotiations.