...

Concession in Karabakh issue possible only within Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity

Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict Materials 10 July 2015 17:52 (UTC +04:00)
The negotiations on Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict continue.
Concession in Karabakh issue possible only within Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity

Baku, Azerbaijan, July 10

By Ilkin Izzet - Trend:

The negotiations on Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict continue, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told reporters July 10.

Azerbaijan's position is clear, he said, adding that concession in Nagorno-Karabakh issue can be made only within Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.

The foreign minister said that granting status to Nagorno-Karabakh is not the issue that should be resolved right now.

"Azerbaijan's position is very constructive. Firstly, the servicemen from both sides should be drawn aside, the IDPs should return home and the ways should be opened. Following this, there will be a need to restore communication. From this point of view, Armenian troops should be withdrawn from seven occupied districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. Following this, Azerbaijani will allow to open all the roads and communications. We will try to gradually create normal relations in the region," he said.

Mammadyarov said that the negotiations continue namely on this basis. "I can say that both the co-chairs and Azerbaijan take steps in this issue. What remains is to achieve the acceptance of this by Armenia. I have no doubts that this will happen sooner or later."

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 the UN Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

Edited by CN

Tags:
Latest

Latest