PROGRESS IN SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT: ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
Trend News Agency
Nov 24 2008
Azerbaijan
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan stated that positive
steps have been made in the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
Nalbandyan told press conference in Istanbul.
Nalbandyan said Moscow meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian
Presidents is an important step in the resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and added that bilateral discussions are
continuing and foreign ministers of the two countries will meet in
early December. Nalbandyan said the meeting can be scheduled for
early 2009 also.
In a reply to journalists’ questions about Turkey-Armenian relations,
Nalbandyan said he will meet with his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan
to discuss relations between the two countries. Nalbandyan said opening
of Turkey-Armenian borders is favorable both for the two countries
and countries in the region. Nalbandyan said favorable conditions
have been created to build relations between the two countries.
Armenia has occupied 20% of Azerbaijan’s territory – Nagorno-Karabakh
and seven surrounding regions. The occupation began in 1988. Azerbaijan
lost the Nagorno-Karabakh, except of Shusha and Khojali, in December
1991. In 1992-93, Armenian Armed Forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and
Nagorno-Karabakh’s seven surrounding regions. 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, but fruitless
negotiations.