AZERBAIJAN SAYS NAGORNO-KARABAKH TO BE PRIORITY ISSUE AT TURKEY-U.S. MEETING

Trend
April 6 2010
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan believes the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
will be a priority issue during Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s
talks in the United States.

"Our expectations are that the U.S. president, as head of a country
represented in the Minsk Group, should force Yerevan to refuse from
its unscrupulous predatory position in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, and
bring Armenia to a constructive position," Azerbaijani Presidential
Administration Social and Political Department head Ali Hasanov told
journalists today.

Erdogan is expected to visit the United States April 12-13.

According to Hasanov, a regional truce is linked with opening the
Turkish-Armenian border, restoring diplomatic ties between the two
countries, establishing normal regional cooperation, and renewing
all transport and informational highways in the South Caucasus.

"We believe this will be a priority on the agenda of the Turkish
official’s meeting in the United States, and we hope an influence
mechanism over the Armenian president will be defined," he added.

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 United
States – are currently holding the peace negotiations.

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