NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION TO BECOME POSITIVE FACTOR FOR ENTIRE REGION: AZERBAIJANI MP

Trend
July 10 2009
Azerbaijan

Russia’s desire to take a more active part in changing the conflict
situation in the South Caucasus has opened up good opportunities to
continue a peace process, the Member of the Azerbaijani Parliament,
Asim Mollazadeh said.

If we can solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by peaceful means, then
it is a very positive factor for the entire region, Mollazadeh said.

The Azerbaijani intelligentsia’s recent visit to the Nagorno-Karabakh
and their meeting in Yerevan will not be able to replace the
negotiating process and even are not called "people’s diplomacy",
and the mission is aimed at rapprochement in the process, Mollazadeh
said at a news conference on July 10.

Azerbaijani and Armenian Ambassadors to Russia Polad Bul-Bul oglu
and Armen Smbatian, as well as Head of Federal Agency for Culture
and Cinematography Mikhail Shvydko are on visit in the unrecognized
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Smbatian, Polad Bul-Bul oglu and Shvydko met
with the President of the unrecognized NKR Bako Saakyan in Khankandi
last week, the Armenian media reported.

A six-member Azerbaijani delegation, as well as two members of the
Azerbaijani parliament Asim Mollazade and Rovshan Rzayev and composer
Siyavush Karimi arrived in Khankandi.

The Azerbaijani delegation left for Armenia and met with President
Serzh Sargsyan.

"Our mission aims to support the peace process, and we are confident
that the peoples of the South Caucasus can live in peace, and we
should seize the opportunity to advance peace in the region," said
the parliamentarian.

We must act rationally and not emotionally to use our capacity for
peace, Mollazadeh said.

The position of the Armenian lobby and the Armenians in Armenia
differ. "In Armenia, I saw a willingness to sign a peace agreement
which President Sargsyan said at the meeting with us," he 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.