UN MULLS SITUATION IN AZERBAIJAN’S OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Trend
Nov 5 2009
Azerbaijan
The situation in Azerbaijan’s occupied territories was discussed at
a round-table in New York at the UN headquarters.
The discussions were organized by the Azerbaijani Permanent Mission to
the U.N. They were attended by about 50 representatives of U.N. member
states and representatives of the organization’s secretariat and
structures, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported with reference
to the country’s permanent representation to the U.N.
Azerbaijani Permanent Representative to the U.N. Agshin Mehdiyev
informed the participants of the round-table on the issue’s history
and legal aspects.
Azerbaijan’s Legal Adviser Professor Malcolm Shaw made a report on
the current legal situation.
Representatives of U.N. member states noted the need to resolve the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict while respecting the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan and international law, and lauded the country’s efforts
in this respect.
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.