ARMENIA MUST RESOLVE KARABAKH CONFLICT PEACEFULLY: AMBASSADOR OF EGYPT
Trend News Agency
Nov 25 2008
Azerbaijan
Armenia should resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict only through
peaceful talks, the Ambassador of Egypt to Armenia, Vahid El Din
Ismayl Halal, told at the meeting with the students of Yerevan State
University, News Armenia reported.
"In the history of Egypt there were several military conflicts with
Israel. In 1973 our country preferred peaceful settlement to the
military conflict. Today, on an example of Egypt, Armenia must solve
Karabakh conflict via peaceful negotiations," said the Ambassador.
The diplomat said that the Nagorno-Karabakh and Arab-Israeli conflicts
are similar, since they have the historical roots.
"Selecting military way, Armenia and Azerbaijan will not solve the
conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh. Both conflicting sides are obligated
to search for the peaceful ways of solution," the Ambassador added.
The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus began in 1988
due to territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Armenia has
occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani land including the Nagorno-Karabakh
region and its seven surrounding Districts. Since 1992, these
territories have been under the occupation of the Armenian Forces. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time
the active hostilities ended. The Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
(Russia, France and USA) are currently holding peaceful negotiations.