Trend, Azerbaijan
Sept 11 2009
GUAM countries ready to support Azerbaijani resolutions on
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Azerbaijan, Baku, September 11 / Trend News E. Tariverdiyeva /
If Azerbaijan submits the resolution on Nagorno-Karabakh for
consideration of the UN General Assembly, GUAM countries will fully
support this initiative, Secretary General of the Organization for
Democracy and Economic Development – GUAM, Valeri Chechelashvili, told
Trend News.
"The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a conflict on the territory of the
GUAM countries. It is one of the most protracted conflicts. Our common
resolution concerns it. At present, this conflict is in agenda. So, it
can be considered, but the Azerbaijani government must make this
decision", Chechelashvili said over phone from Kiev.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
lost all of Nagorno-Karabakh except for Shusha and Khojali in December
1991. In 1992-93, Armenian armed forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and 7
districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed
a ceasefire in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia,
France, and the U.S. – are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Consideration of this conflict is in full accordance with item of
General Assembly’s agenda, Secretary General of GUAM said.
Chechelashvili said that when Azerbaijan decides to submit any
resolution that could concern return of refugees and other issues
including conflict or the resolution directly related to settlement of
the conflict, the GUAM countries will support Azerbaijan.
Formulating and ideology of further possible resolution, as well as
date of its submission to the UN General Assembly depend on
Azerbaijan, " he said.
"It is rather complicated procedure to submit the resolution,
including search of a partner, consultations with countries,
talks. So, it will be done in future. If Azerbaijan decides to use
this item of the agenda to announce about Nagorno-Karabakh problem in
any perspective in the UN General Assembly and it is quite entitled to
do it. The GUAM countries will fully support it", Chechelashvili said.
The GUAM was established for regional cooperation in 1997 during a
summit of presidents of European Union countries. The organization was
inactive till 2005. Major issues of summits within the last three
years were settlement of regional conflicts and coordination of
efforts to ensure energy security.
The 64-th session of the UN General Assembly will be launched in New
York in the second half of September. The delegation headed by
Azerbaijani foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov will represent
Azerbaijan at the session, official representative of the Azerbaijani
foreign ministry, Elhan Poluhov, told Trend News on September 11.