LEBANESE FM: LEBANON SUPPORTS AZERBAIJAN’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY
Trend
foreign/1640026.html
Feb 16 2010
Azerbaijan
Beirut respects the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and supports
the country in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, Lebanese
Foreign Minister Ali Hussein al-Shami said.
"Lebanon supports Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity
within its internationally recognized borders on the basis of
international law and in accordance with U.N. resolutions," al-Shami
said in an interview to Trend News.
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 seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a cease-fire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the United
States – 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 region and the
occupied territories.
Ali Hussein al-Shami has headed Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry since
November 2009 after the formation of a coalition government led by
Saad al-Hariri.
According to him, although Lebanon had abstained from voting on
the 63th meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, Beirut is committed
to friendly relations with Azerbaijan, and continues constant
consultations and cooperation with Baku in various fields.
"Lebanon officially recognized the Republic of Azerbaijan after the
declaration of its independence in 1991 and established diplomatic
relations in 1992. Besides, several agreements on economic, trade,
customs cooperation, as well as an agreement on air transport have
been signed between the countries," Ali Hussein al-Shami said.
Addressing the Lebanese prime minister’s upcoming visit to Azerbaijan,
the minister said that the exact date of arrival has not yet been
determined. He said this visit aims to promote and strengthen bilateral
cooperation in various spheres.
"The agenda includes visits with economic and social objectives,
mentioned in Lebanon’s foreign policy plan," al-Shami said.