ARMENIA DELAYS NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SOLUTION: VICE SPEAKER
Trend
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijan
Armenia delays the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the
First Vice Speaker of the Parliament of Azerbaijan said.
At a meeting with a member of the House of Lords of Great Britain,
John Desmond Forbes Anderson Veyverli, the First Vice Speaker of
Azerbaijani Parliament Ziyafet Askerov spoke about the essence of the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem. He said that the meetings of parliamentarians
have been held for more than ten years, but aggressive Armenia does
not behave as a serious state and refuses positive tendencies achieved
in the negotiations, thus delaying the solution of the conflict,
the press office of the Parliament told Trend News on Nov. 23.
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 Askerov, despite 18 years activity of the OSCE Minsk
Group, there is no result. "Being interested in preserving the status
quo, Armenia does not fulfill UN Security Council’s four resolutions,
does not follow international legal norms and principles," the
report said.
Askerov said that Azerbaijan is a supporter of peace and wants a
peaceful solution to the conflict. "But if Armenia would indefinitely
delay the peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan will
have to liberate its occupied lands by military means," he said
According to him, the international community approaches the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with the position of observer. Askerov also
highlighted another important point, saying that the world countries
should not have same attitude towards Azerbaijan experiencing
occupation and occupant Armenia. "These two countries should be
assessed for their actions, and to resolve the conflict it is necessary
to look through this prism," said the First Vice Speaker.
To resolve the conflict, firstly the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan must be ensured, later refugees and internally displaced
persons must be returned to their homes and the security of Armenians
living in Nagorno-Karabakh must be guaranteed, said Lord Veyverli.