USA SUPPORTS TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN AND GEORGIA: U.S. DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE
trend@trend.az

Trend News Agency
02.10.08 19:04
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 2 October /corr. Trend News R.Novruzov / The
USA supports territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and Georgia, the
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, John D. Negroponte, said to press
conference in Baku.

"The United States, as a member of the OSCE Minsk Group, makes
big efforts to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The conflict
settlement may be achieved through talks," he said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries appeared in 1988
due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenia has
occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani lands including the Nagorno-Karabakh
region and its seven surrounding districts. Since 1992 to the present
time, these territories have been under Armenian occupation. In 1994,
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a cease-fire agreement at which time
the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
(Russia, France and USA) are holding peaceful negotiations.

In addition, Negroponte condemned the actions of Russia with regards
to South Ossetia conflict. "We and the European friends rendered
big assistance to Georgia. We hope that taking into consideration
the cost, which paid for its actions, Russia will twice think before
again acting in this way," the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State said.

According to Negroponte, during the dialogue, the USA told Russia that
its actions with regards to Georgia do not provide an opportunity to
ensure peace and are not suitable for the 21st century.