AZERBAIJAN’S RULING PARTY DISCLOSES REASONS TO REFUSE CONDUCTING JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES WITH US
Trend
April 20 2010
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan’s ruling party disclosed the reasons to refuse conducting
joint military exercises with the U.S..
"The processes are interrelated – ensuring security, stability,
cooperation in the region is directly related to the liquidation of
the consequences of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. If to consider
the processes in this context, first of all, important steps must
be taken towards resolving the conflict," deputy chairman, executive
secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) Ali Ahmedov briefed
the media on April 20.
According to him, fair steps must be taken in this regard, then it
is possible to take additional measures to ensure peace and security
in the region.
"Azerbaijani society can accept only one reality – if the fair
position of the country is not protected by international, political
structures, the question arises on to which extent these relations
meet the interests of Azerbaijan." said Ahmedov.
Azerbaijan has refused to hold joint military exercises with the U.S.,
which had been scheduled for May.
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.