Kazakhstan is ready to sign a 'road map' on Armenia's accession to the Customs Union, but with a dissenting opinion, because the country demands clarification of issues regarding the Customs Union's borders arising in connection with the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said, RIA Novosti reported on Dec. 24.
Kazakh president made the remarks at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.
"The 'road map', with regard to Armenia, has been in general agreed, and I believe perhaps it can be approved. However, the issue of the Customs Union's border, where it will stretch in Armenia in connection with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, still remains open. Therefore, we will sign 'road maps' with our colleagues, but with a dissenting opinion, which will be reported," Nazarbayev said.
He expressed the hope that during the harmonization of the document the experts will find a solution to this issue.
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.