ROMANIA PLEADS FOR PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF CONFLICT IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Financiarul
ds-for-peaceful-settlement-of-conflict-in-nagorno- karabakh/
March 23 2010
Romania

Romania pleads for peaceful settlement of conflict in the
Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, in compliance with the principles of
territorial integrity and inviolability of state borders, Romanian
Minister of Foreign Affairs Teodor Baconschi said on the occasion of
his recent visit to Azerbaijan, reads a press release of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs (MAE).

We want this conflict to be settled in accordance with international
law, the principles of territorial integrity and of inviolability
of state borders," said the head of Romanian diplomacy, in a press
conference held together with his Azeri counterpart Elmar Mamediarov
on Thursday, March 18. Baconschi also added he was optimistic about
prospects of settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the first that erupted in the former
Soviet Union territory, dates from back in 1988. After a six-year war
(1988 – 1994), Yerevan took control of this enclave in Azerbaijan,
populated by Armenians. Although major international organisations
such as UN, OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe),
via its Minsk Group, tried to put an end to this conflict, the matter
still remains open.

Minister Teodor Baconschi on 18 March paid an official visit to
Azerbaijan, during which he met President Ilham Aliev, Prime Minister
Artur Rasizade, Parliament Speaker Assadov Ogtai, Foreign Minister
Elmar Mamediarov and Industry and Energy Minister Natig Aliyev.

The talks confirmed the excellent level of the Romanian-Azerbaijani
relations, which resulted in a Strategic Partnership, through the
conclusion of the Joint Declaration by the two presidents in Bucharest,
back on September 29, 2009.

On the occasion of Romanian ForMin’s visit, it was reaffirmed
the country’s support for Azerbaijan on its road to European and
Euro-Atlantic structures, with emphasis on the need for effective
recovery of the opportunities offered by European regional initiatives
such as the Black Sea Synergy and the Eastern Partnership. Also,
Romania will continue to play an active role in promoting Euro-Atlantic
values in the Azerbaijan Republic, in its capacity as a NATO Contact
Point Embassy in Baku, over 2009-2010.