Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 19
Trend:
Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh, which was occupied by Armenia, will not be included to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAU) after Armenia's accession, the first deputy foreign minister of Belarus, Alexander Mihnevich, said, the Belarusian news agency BelTA reported Dec. 19.
He was introducing a draft law on ratification of the agreement on Armenia's accession to the EAU.
The first deputy foreign minister explained that the Armenian side prepared a relevant note, which stipulates the point regarding Nagorno-Karabakh region.
"We had a concern that the territories, which are not a part of Armenia, could end up becoming part of the Customs Union," Mihnevich said. "The Armenian side perceived this requirement with understanding."
He further said that the agreement included a note that the Nagorno-Karabakh is not a part of Armenia.
"A formal verbal statement was made by the Armenian side," Mihnevich said.
He also stressed that there are no obstacles to make Armenia a de facto party to the Customs Union and a member to the future EAU.
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.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.