SYRIA SUPPORTS THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN: SYRIAN FM

Today.Az
17.html
June 3 2009
Azerbaijan

Syria advocates equitable settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
which will meet interests of the both sides, Syrian Foreign Minister
Valid Al Muallim said in Baku.

"Our position is to find a political solution to the problem through
a direct dialogue. Prior to my visit to Baku, I went to Armenia. I
saw that the sides have the desire to sign a peace agreement, and
everything must be done to the conflict to be resolved in the near
future," Al Muallim said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed
forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are currently
holding the peace negotiations.

The sides have to show courage and political will to reach equitable
settlement of the conflict. "Syria supports the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan," he added.

Syrian Foreign Minister is on a state visit to Baku. He have discussed
the preparations to the first visit of Syrian President Bashar Assad
to Azerbaijan that is to be made in early June.