NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT MUST BE RESOLVED HONORING AZERBAIJAN’S TERRITORIAL SOVEREIGNTY: GEORGIAN PRESIDENT MIKHEIL SAAKASHVILI

Trend
Dec 23 2009
Azerbaijan

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be resolved honoring Azerbaijan’s
territorial sovereignty, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said.

"There is only one way to solve all these problems. Direct
negotiations taking into account international law, including the
rights of people to return to their place of residence, and respect
for state sovereignty," Saakashvili said in an interview with Ekho
Moskvy radio station.

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.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. General Assembly’s resolutions
on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied
territories.

He said the Nagorno-Karabakh problem is complicated. A main key to
the problem is Russia.

"I think thhe countries must talk, people must communicate to achieve
results. As for the talks held between Turkey and Armenia, everything
should be coordinated with Azerbaijan, " Saakashvili said.

He added that talks are always good, any progress is positive.

"I do not want to call this situation the status quo. As our situation
has shown, the status quo does not exist. Whenever there is such
a situation, one must always be careful to avoid complications and
deterioration," Saakashvili said.