Trend, Azerbaijan
Nov 21 2009

Adopting law on alternative military service depends solution of
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Azerbaijan, Baku, November 20 /Trend News A.Huseynbala / Adoption of
the draft law on alternative service depends on the solution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem. The bill on alternative service is ready and
the Council of Europe experts positively commented on it, the head of
the Azerbaijani Parliament’s administration Safa Mirzayev briefed the
media.

While joining the Council of Europe in 2001, Azerbaijan has undertaken
a number of commitments. One of them is the adoption of the law on
alternative service. Azerbaijan fulfilled other obligations, except
this. The draft law on alternative service is ready, and the Council
of Europe commented on it.

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.

According to Mirzayev, next year, the bill will be reconsidered with
the working group, after which it will be fully prepared for
discussion. However, the adoption of the bill depends on the results
of ongoing negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. If the
negotiations will not bring to any positive results, the draft will
not be submitted for consideration, said Mirzayev.

According to Mirzayev, Azerbaijani military opposes against the
adoption of the law. They think that the adoption of this law is
premature in a country with war situation, he said.