CAUCASUS MUSLIMS’ HEAD: INTERCONFESSIONAL DIALOGUE WILL HELP TO RESOLVE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT
Trend
May 30 2012
Azerbaijan
Head of the Caucasus Muslims Office (CMO) Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur
Pashazade sees the solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in
interconfessional dialogue.
“I consider it expedient to solve the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh
not only in bilateral negotiations, but also at the level of
inter-religious dialogue”, Pashazade said on Wednesday, speaking at
the IV Congress of world and traditional religions in Astana.
He said the Nagorno-Karabakh problem hinders the development of the
entire Caucasus region.
“Heads of States under international mediation continue talks on
this protracted conflict, which hinders the overall development of
the region. But for success of the negotiations aimed at peaceful
and just resolution of conflict a constructive spirit and interfaith
dialogue are needed,” Pashazade said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven 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 peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.