By Rashid Shirinov

Japan fully supports the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs’ efforts to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and expects peaceful resolution based on the principles of international law, Japanese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Teruyuki Katori told APA on May 30.

The diplomat expressed Japan’s deep concern over the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and voiced sincere condolences to its victims.

“Conflicts destabilize their regions. A final resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is essential for the peace and stability of the South Caucasus region,” noted Katori.

The ambassador added that the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not a problem of two parties."It includes much more context from regional issues to geopolitics. It is very difficult to solve this problem only between the two countries,” he said.

Katori added that it is necessary to cooperate with related countries, neighboring states and international organizations to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The conflict began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Armenia still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.

The OSCE Minsk Group, the activities of which have become known as the Minsk Process, is working to find a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. While the OSCE Minsk Group acts as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, it failed to make any move to achieve a breakthrough in the peace process so far.