AZERBAIJAN SHOULD RESOLUTELY DEMAND CONCRETE RESULTS FROM MINSK GROUP: FIRST VICE-SPEAKER

Trend
Dec 12 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 12 /TrendNews, J.Babayeva/ Azerbaijan should
resolutely demand concrete results from the Organization for Security
and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group.

"We should continue work of the OSCE Minsk Group and demand concrete
results in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict from them,"
Ziyafat Asgarov, the first vice-speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament,
told journalists on Dec. 12.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in
1988, due to the Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, the Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven neighbouring
districts. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement
which ended the active hostilities. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group (Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding the peaceful
negotiations.

Activity of the Minsk Group was not efficient within several years,
Asgarov said. "The Minsk Group states that the conflict sides should
find common language and they can only put forward their proposals. If
we can find a common language with Armenia, then why we need the OSCE
Minsk Group. The Minsk Group should react to Armenia’s non-fulfillment
of the U.N resolution and non-liberation of the Azerbaijani occupied
lands," the vice-speaker said.