Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 3
Trend:
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict harms the stability of the region, as well as Europe, UK Minister of State for Europe David Lidington was quoted by "Novosti-Armenia" agency as saying at a joint press-conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian in Yerevan Nov. 3.
"The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains a source of concern for the United Kingdom," Lidington said
He said Great Britain attaches great importance to the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries in searching for a political solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"The international community must double assistance to the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen to stop the human tragedy of the conflict, which has been lasting for a very long time," the minister said. "We want progress in the mediators' actions."
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries 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 districts.
Armenia and Azerbaijan 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 four U.N. Security Council resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
edited by CN