AZERBAIJANI MPS WANT NAGORNO KARABAKH REPORT
Trend
Nov 26 2009
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani MPs want the foreign minister to issue a report on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"Parties in parliament should be informed about the situation, as well
as talks on the settlement of the conflict," said Great Establishment
Party Chairman Fazail Mustafa said at a parliamentary session.
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.
Mustafa said closed hearings should be held on the talks with
parliament and the foreign minister and deputy foreign minister.
"To resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in accordance with
Azerbaijan’s interests, we should establish an even closer relationship
with Russia," Unified Popular Front Party Chairman Gudrat Hasanguliyev
said.
He added that Azerbaijan could join the Collective Security Treaty
to settle the conflict.
"I think that in this way we would have the ability to influence
Armenia’s position via Russia. If necessary, we could agree to place
Russian’s military bases in Azerbaijan," he said
"There is no need to submit to parliament a report on talks to resolve
Nagorno-Karabakh, " said MP, Deputy Executive Secretary of the ruling
New Azerbaijan Party Mubariz Gurbanli. "The president has constantly
voiced the position of our state on the highest level."
He added that parliament should only consider the adoption of a law
related to the occupied territories.
"Passing this law, we would have restrictions on international
organizations’ and companies’ visitng Nagorno-Karabakh," Gurbanli said.