RUSSIA SHOULD ASSIST IN SETTLING NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT: GERMAN MP
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 27 2007
Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend I.Alizade / A member of Germany’s
Bundesliega (Parliament), Arnold Vaatz, said on 27 September in Baku
that Russia should assist in settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
" Russia’s assistance in reaching stability in the region is very
important," Vaatz said. According to him, Germany recognizes the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and supports the peaceful
settlement of the conflict.
"We hope that the conflict will be resolved within the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan provided that the security of the local
residents in the Nagorno-Karabakh will be ensured," he said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries appeared in
1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, Armenia has occupied 20% of Azerbaijani land including the
Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In 1994,
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a cease-fire agreement at which time
the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
(Russia, France, and the US) are holding peaceful negotiations.